shadow

The Virtual Office – Run Your Business From Home

At one point in my career I found my self Chief Information Officer of a small start up company, struggling to make ends meet. We were burning $50,000.00 to $75,000.00 per month and not quite making that in *gross* sales.

We were depending on investors to fund the business and investors were getting harder and harder to find. It looked like our little business was not going to make it.

After crunching some numbers I determined that we could cut expenses into less than half if we would let everyone who was not critical to the business go and more importantly, close down the office and run the business 'virtually'.

At first the executive team balked at the idea but I told them how we could do it and showed them how much we could save monthly by doing it. After careful consideration they agreed and our little business went 'virtual'.

After giving the employees the bad news we closed the office and each member of the executive team took home all files, equipment, etc. that was most pertinent to their job. We supplied our 'critical' employees with computers, software and equipment as needed.

Just before we left the office we set up a virtual PBX phone system. They're offered all over the Internet. You can do a search on one of the major search engines for 'virtual pbx'. The one I use now is GotVMail.com. It works pretty well for us and it's very inexpensive.

Most large businesses have automated pbx system these days so using this system doesn't make us look like we don't have a central office. You can even upgrade it if you prefer and use a live person to answer the phones. Those are also available in plenty. When a call is placed to the pbx system it is forwarded to the number we set up (like for sales, support, Bob Fischer, etc.) If the phone isn't answered the pbx system sends the call to that phone account's voice mail. The best thing about these pbx systems is that they're VERY inexpensive. We currently pay $35.00 to $75.00 per month and we even have an 800 number. Even though we all have phones and cellphones, the expense isn't nearly as high because our phones are not set up with the phone company as 'business' phones. Say it's a 'business' account and the monthly bill doubles or more.

Having the phone system covered we turn to the corporate information/file system.

Being the CIO I took all of the computer servers and the Internet connectivity equipment home. I set up an adequite Internet connection to my house (again, non-business) and ran all of our inter-computer networking and our Website over the Internet from my home. We set up a VPN (a secure) connection between our computers over the Internet so we could see them all just like we could if we were in an office. Secured directories on any computer were protected just as they would be in an office. For a 'central' file server I set up an FTP (File Transfer) site on our file server. Again it was fully protected against intruders but all of our people could access the central file system just as easily as if we were in an office.

As far as interoffice communication was concerned, we still used phones and email alot like we often did in the office anyway. For meetings we could use 'virtual meeting' software but we found that we much preferred to just meet at a restaurant and enjoy a (company expensed) bite to eat.

NOw our little business was running fully virtual. Everyone was working from home and I might add, *loving* it. Soon after we were under way we ran into a nasty problem. We learned that our employees (the critical ones who we highly depended on) found it too much of a temptation to watch TV or handle domestic affairs (being at home) rather than really dedicating the time we were paying them for to working for us. Gradually it got so that no live person would (almost) ever answer our phones. Our clients were not being taken care of. Sales was dropping (which was already a problem). We (I) started to think that I had made a mistake and that this was not going to work.

We had an executive meeting concerning the problem and determined that we had a choice: solve the problem or close our doors. We determined that we would do our level best to solve the problem.

The first thing we did was hold a corporate meeting (and treated everyone to lunch) and explain our problem to our employees. We told them flatly that if it didn't stop they would lose their jobs.

The second thing we did was to restructure employee pay. Salaries went *way* down but were subsidized with pay based on production. This was a little closer to piece work. The emphasis was not on how long they worked but more on how much they got done.

In addition to that we developed software to monitor their work. For every little piece of work they did they had to check a box or click a button on the computer to mark that it was done. If they didn't they didn't get paid for it. Of course we had to periodically check to make sure they weren't lying and for the most part they were honest about it. Sometimes more detailed information was required like selecting the client from a drop down or selecting specific services that were provided. Long story short, they had to record every part of their work to our database in order to be paid.

We developed reports of each of our employees' work so we could closely monitor them. We made some reports available to all our employees and some available only to specific employees. For example, our service team could always see what each other was accomplishing. Our sales team always knew who was selling what (with information restrictions like customer names, etc.). We set up 'senior' employees to monitor their subordinates (especially concerning voice mail messages to make sure the phones were getting answered) so we had a 'virtual supervisor' system in place.

So we knew, our employees knew (and knew that we knew) what they were doing at all times. Sure, like any business, we did have to let a few go and rehire but for the most part it worked *very* well. Our sales and operations were much better than it was, even when we were in the office. Everyone was accountable to the whole company for their actions. Good work was rewarded (mostly with money but also with promotions) and bad (or lack of) work was penalized (sometimes with the loss of their great 'work at home' job).

That little start up company is still in business and still struggling along. I question the overall business plan of the company but the virtual offices works *great*; much better even than I originally expected it to.

Since then I've noticed that a lot of businesses are beginning to let employees work at home. I have a friend who works for a large 'temporary personnel' company. She used to go into the office every work day. Now she works at home full time.

With the technology that is available today it is definitely feasable, in many cases even practical to run a business 'virtually', that is without a central office.

Home Business Remedies to Fit Your Busy Schedule

If you are pressed for time but still want to start your own home business, there are several possible solutions. Earning an Internet income doesn't have to be stressful - it can actually be fun. If your dream is to work at home while enjoying a lucrative Internet income, read below for some home business remedies to fit your busy schedule and financial needs.

Home Business Schedule

Even with a home business you should set a certain time aside each day to work on your business. Do your best to stick with a work schedule just as you would at any other job. If you plan to work eight hours per day, let this be the limit. Don't neglect your family and personal hobbies. You'll need some time away from your desk and/or computer to relax and clear your thoughts. Also, remember to exercise. Working on a computer all day can be detrimental to your physical health if you neglect daily exercise.

If working a part-time schedule, keep on track with your business and lifestyle by setting aside a few hours or one whole day each week to work. You might work at another full-time job while building your home business, so keep a healthy balance between the two and don't over-work yourself.

Save Time with an Internet Marketing Group

When working within a limited time frame, you won't have much time to promote your home business. Working with an Internet marketing group will help relieve much of this burden. An Internet marketing group will market the business for you, provide lead generation, and in some cases, even close the sale for you.

Another benefit is you can take advantage of their call centre where they will answer your customers' questions. With the free advertising they provide, your out-of-pocket expenses will be minimal. You'll be able to concentrate on other aspects of your business.

Use the Products of Others to Earn an Internet Income

Selling your own products takes time and money. You have to produce a product or service and take the time to ship products or to provide your own services. There are many companies online today that will allow you to sell their products for profit. You find the customers while they fulfill the orders. From affiliate programs to MLM products and drop shipping, your opportunities are limitless online.

Time-Saving Home Business Products

If you're thinking of selling your own products or services, choose products that require little investment and have a high profit margin. Informational products such as e-books are among the top sellers online today. E-books are downloadable so there's nothing to print or ship. Your customers can download an e-book immediately after the purchase from an auto-response email. Once this is set up, you will be free to promote your home business. You'll only need to update the e-book from time to time.

Other time-saving home business products include high-profit crafts or items you can make from your own home, Web services such as web design or graphic design, Internet marketing services, training materials, books, and many others.

Remember, find a home business that suits your lifestyle. Choose a business that you enjoy and use the tips above to maximize your Internet income while saving time for your personal life.

Must Read Guide to Write a Winning Business Plan !! Grab The CASH Now !!!

Ever thought of starting a business? Short of money though? Sourcing for capital is definitely essential if you want to grow the business and tide your business over the

initial tough period. In the below article, I will share with you the essentials to writing a successful business plan to help you seek better alignment with your team and also to

convince the potential investors that you have done your due research and work, and have a clear idea of what you would want to achieve both in the short and long terms. Without this business plan ready, who will be convinced to lend you huge sums of money, right ??

So read on now to find out more...

Outline of a Successful Business plan

1) Executive Summary

2) Customer Need and Business Opportunity

- (Customer)Who are the targeted customers?

- What are their needs?

- What are the characteristics affecting consumer behaviour?

- (Business Opportunity) Understand the nature of the business markets

- Analyze the business buyer behaviour and process

- Understand the buyer-Decision Process for new products

- Additional analysis for institutional markets (eg: hospitals)

3) Market and Competitive Analysis

- Analyze the market environment through the companyЎЇs micro and macroenvironment

- Understand the marketing research process

- Find out current competitors and the existing products, and explain why our products have

an advantage over theirs

4) Business Strategy and Key Milestones

- Types of market segmentation

- Perform target marketing by evaluating different groups, selecting wanted groups, and

choosing strategy of marketing

- Positioning: identify possible competitive advantage, choosing the right competitive

advantages, selecting an overall positioning strategy(Value Proposition) , developing a

positioning statement and communicating and delivering the chosen position

- Make use of promotion, pricing partnership and PR to gain initial entry

- Anticipating and Countering Competitive Reaction

- Brand Development and Other Entry Barrier Building Mechanisms to Defend Position

- Market Growth/Diversification/Internationalization Strategy

- Expansion of Partnership, Affiliation and JV Strategies to Sustain Growth/Diversification

- Maintaining & Exploiting Options for Multiple Revenue Models

- Building Market Sensing Mechanisms to Learn and Adapt

5) Product Development Plan

- Work by R&D team

- Considerations in designing a successful prototype in the shortest period of time

- Product testing

- Test marketing

- Possible Commercialization based on results from test marketing, and the factors to take

note

- Deciding on a sequential product development style or simultaneous product development.

6) Marketing Plan

- 4 PЎЇs to consider: Price, Product, Promotion, and Place

- Pricing: Factors to consider from internal and external factors. Understand the various

general pricing approaches like cost-based pricing, value-based pricing , and competitor

based pricing. Also under pricing strategies like market-skimming and market penetration

pricing. Test out product mix pricing strategies, price adjustment strategies, and see which

is more appropriate.

- Product: Decide on things like product attributes, branding, packaging, labelling and

product support services. The product has to appeal to the target market

- Place: Basically about distribution network, figure out the supply chains and the value

delivery network, selecting the type of channel design, channel management decisions.

Creating marketing logistics and integrated supply chain management.

- Promotion: Applying the marketing communications mix including advertising, sales

promotion, public relations, personal selling and direct marketing, and see how to integrate

into one. Understand the communication process with consumers, and know the steps in

developing effective communication which include identifying target audience, determining

communication objectives, designing a message, choosing a media, selecting the message

source, and collecting feedback.

7) Operation Plan

- The operating plan should describe facilities, location, space requirements, capital

equipment, and labor force that are required to provide the company's product or service.

8) Management and Key Personnel

- The management team is the key to turning a good idea into a successful business. Bankers

and investors look for a committed management team with a balance of technical, managerial,

and business skills. The proposal should include a description of the organizational

structure, key management personnel and their primary duties, and the board of directors, if

applicable.

- Describe the exact duties and responsibilities of each key member of the management team.

For each individual, include a brief statement of career highlights that focuses on his or

her ability to perform the assigned role. A complete resume for each member should be

included as an exhibit to the business plan.

- In a table, present the key management roles in the company and the individual who will

fill each position. Discuss any current or past situations where the management personnel

have worked together, and indicate how their skills complement each other and result in an

effective management team.

9) Financial Projection

- The financial plan is basic to the evaluation of a business opportunity and should

represent your best estimate of future operations. It can also serve as an operating plan

for your management team.

- Includes sources and use of funds, estimated cash flow analysis, P&L, and balance sheets.

10) Risk Factors and Key Assumptions

11) The Proposed Offering

- The potential benefits an investor will expects to get back from investing in your

business. No one likes to lose money, right ?? Key Performance Indicator would be ROI

(return on investment)

-----------------------------------------------------------

In conclusion, with this basic guideline, you now a better idea of what to include in a

business plan to make a convincing statement and proposition to the potential investors.

Next step is to start the momentum going !! Time and Tide wait for no man.

3 Cold Calling Mistakes that Trigger Rejection

Here are 3 common cold calling techniques that you should probably avoid:

Mistake #1: Center the conversation around yourself and what you have to offer

In the old approach, you introduce yourself, explain what you do, and suggest a benefit or feature of your product. And then you close your eyes and pray that the other person will be interested

Unfortunately, the moment you stop talking you usually hear, "Sorry, I’m busy," or "Sorry, I'm not interested."

You see, you’ve started your cold call by talking about your world and what you have to offer. But realistically, most people aren’t all that interested in you. When you talk about your company and your product, it’s just another advertisement to them. You haven’t engaged them, so they often just "turn the page."

Prospects are much more interested in themselves and what’s important to them. So if you start the conversation by focusing on their world, they’re more likely to interact with you.

So instead, talk about an issue or problem they may need solving. Focus on them rather than on what you have to offer. And see where it takes you.

Mistake #2: Be confident they should buy your product or service

In the old cold calling mindset, you’re taught to focus on the sale and be completely confident that what you’re offering is something the other person should buy.

The problem with this approach is that you haven’t asked them to determine this along with you. So think about it – in the old mindset, you’re really deciding for someone else what’s good for them. I know this isn’t intended, but that’s exactly what comes across to your prospects.

So rather than being full of confidence and enthusiasm, stop for a minute and think about the other individual. Relax into a real conversation instead of moving into a persuasive strategy or sales pitch. Put yourself in their shoes and invite them to explore along with you whether what you have to offer is a match for them.

Others really can distinguish the difference. You’re inviting them to see if you might be able to help them solve a problem. This makes for a much better connection right at the beginning, and you’ll get that immediate rejection reaction much less.

Mistake #3: When someone brings up an objection, try to overcome it

You know, one of the reasons cold calling is so difficult is that sometimes you may not be very familiar with the other person and their business. When you make that first call, you don’t know very much about their issues, problems, budget, and time constraints.

Chances are, not everyone is going to benefit by your product or service.

So realistically, your company or product isn’t going to be a match for everyone. And yet, when someone brings up an objection ("we don’t have the budget for that," etc.), the old cold calling mindset trains you to "overcome," "bypass," or "override."

But when you do that, you put the other person on the defensive. Something they’ve said is being dismissed. And here’s where rejection can happen very suddenly.

So it’s much better to listen to their concerns and continue to explore whether what you’re offering makes sense for them. There are some wonderful phrases you can use that validate their viewpoint without closing the conversation.

So now you’ve discovered the 3 major cold calling mistakes people often make. See if you can shift away from those old self-sabotaging mindsets. When you do, you’ll notice that people will engage you much more, and the immediate rejection you’ve grown so accustomed to will happen much less.

Work toward Financial Freedom with a Home Business

When you start a home business, the first question that probably comes to mind is "how will I ever build my business to earn money and become financially free?" With any home business, financial freedom doesn't just happen overnight. Whether you're selling products from your own warehouse or factory, selling e-books (written by you or reselling), or offering a valuable service, there are some home business "musts" for success.

Research, Research, Research!

If you don't have a product or service to offer, you can always opt for a ready-made home business. A ready-made home business is one that is set up by another individual or company in which you are trained to sell their products to others. Before delving into a ready-made home business, research many opportunities to find out what types of products and services you'll be able to offer to your clients.

Don't jump on every bandwagon you see. Read what each business opportunity has to offer and compare value-added services with the investment required. Find out what's involved to join, promote, and continue with the business.

Try to find a home business opportunity that you feel comfortable with and will enjoy doing for a long time. If you enjoy your business, you're more likely to succeed and realize financial freedom.

Choose a Home Business that Fits Your Personality

Not every home business type will be right for you. Choose one that fits your personality. If you enjoy sales and are very good at it, then choose a home business that allows you to interact with others by phone, e-mail, or face to face. The business might include direct sales to the end consumer, business-to-business sales, or networking to help others realize financial freedom.

If you would rather promote online and do your own thing without much interaction, then start a home business that allows you to do this. If you prefer to sign on with another company to promote their products or services, find out if they will close the sales for you. If they will do this, you can have freedom to promote and build the business doing what you love the most.

Work Diligently from Home

Once you decide on the type of business, it's time to work! Put your best foot forward when starting a home business. Don't assume that working from home will be easy. To have a real business, you must really work at it. Create a business plan and set realistic goals to earn money and achieve financial freedom over a period of time. Then spend much time finding ways to promote your business for real results. Beware of promotional companies that sound too good to be true. There are some very dependable promotional companies, but there are also many scams. Research a company before paying into their programs. Look for companies that have been around a while and have a good reputation. Ask around in discussion forums (related to your type of business) for advice and resources on promotion.

Create a Steady Cash System

Once you promote your home business a while and start getting sales, determine what you'll need to do to create a steady cash system for the future. Find ways to maximize your efforts. Create more content for your website that will attract additional search engine traffic. Start an e-zine (electronic newsletter) to gain repeat visitors to your website. Add more products or services to get repeat business. These will help you continue in success for the long run. Your income will be steady and you'll be able to make money from home on a full-time basis.

Continuing Education

Learn all you can about your business and products. If you're selling e-books that were written by others, read as many of them as you can so you'll know the quality and details of the items you are selling. If offering a service, learn how to offer the best service possible. You can easily order home study courses to help you learn new trades or improve on your skills. The more you know about your business and products, the better you'll be able to promote them and assist your customers when they have questions.

If you follow these simple steps, you'll be able to start a home business that brings you satisfaction each day. Financial freedom is sure to follow!

Why "Overcoming" Objections Can Lose the Sale

"Objections" or "Concerns"

The problem is, that's where you often lose them, because reacting to "objections" almost inevitably lets prospects pigeonhole you as "salesperson".

Think about it for a moment. When prospects raise an objection and you cleverly dismiss it, what often happens?

They come up with even more objections.

When you dismiss those, they may suddenly remember that they have another appointment, or that they have to make an important call. Or they may agree to your offer…and then a day or two later you get a message that they're not going to go forward after all.

That's probably the most demoralizing outcome of all, because you thought you "had" that sale, and they've reneged on you.

What's happening here?

It's about sales pressure. When you're so focused on making the sale that you counter a prospect's objections, you're pressuring them. It's that simple.

I'd like to share with you a different perspective on how to view objections.

Objections aren't roadblocks, red flags, or stop signs. They're an opportunity to learn more about your prospect's truth so you and they can decide whether the solution you're offering can solve their problem or issue.

In fact, we should probably stop using the term "objections" entirely and start talking about "concerns," because that's what objections really are. But for you to be able to look at objections this way, you have to let go of the traditional goal of selling, which is to make the sale.

When we adopt the mindset that objections are another way to learn about a prospect's truth, we stop panicking and falling into the trap of pressuring them that chases them away.

When we respond to objections in a way that invites them to share more about their situation with us, we sustain and enhance the relationship of mutual trust and openness we've shared so far.

When we don't fall into the traditional "I've got to rescue this sale" reaction, we free ourselves to continue the process of discovering whether we can help solve a problem.

Here's another advantage of reframing how you view objections -- they give you another opportunity to learn whether your prospect is a match for what you have to offer.

When you stop trying to overcome objections and just listen, you may hear that there really is a problem around whether your product or service is a fit for them.

In that case, you and they can talk further, or you may decide it would be best to wish them well and move on. This means that you can make better use of your time.

"This all sounds great," you're probably thinking. "But how do I actually do it?"

Common "Objections"

Here are some specifics about how you can respond to 3 common "objections" in ways that avoid introducing sales pressure and open the conversation to more exploration of your prospect's truth.

"Your price is too high."

Traditional sales approaches tell you to defend your pricing or to deny that it's too high. Consider this response instead:

"You are right, it can be perceived as high, especially if you haven't had a chance to experience the solution yet. The last thing I want to do is have you feel any pressure from me, that I'm trying to persuade you otherwise. Maybe it might help if we took a look at the core issues this should solve for you and then identify what the return will be. That might provide you with a broader perspective on the pricing, would you be open to that?"

By inviting the other person to tell you more, instead of challenging or denying how they view things, you're validating their viewpoint and reopening the conversation around the idea of why they feel the price is high.

By not trying to counter the "objection," you allow the dialogue to move back to a discussion that centers around whether you're a good match for each other.

"Why should I go with you?"

Traditional sales approaches to tell us to defend our company and our solution and to try to persuade prospects as to why we're better.

Instead, consider saying something along these line, in a relaxed, low-key way:

(Gentle pause.) "I'm not quite convinced you should yet, not until you're completely comfortable with the reasons why this solution might be best for you. The last thing I want to do is put pressure on you by trying to convince you to do something you may or may not want to do. Would it make sense for us to take a look at the actual issues you want to solve and then see if we are a fit?"

Here again, you're not creating sales pressure by defending your solution. You're simply communicating that you're focused solely on helping them to solve their problem.

"We don't have the budget for that."

Again, traditional sales approaches focus on overcoming this kind of objection by showing prospects why they should choose your solution.

Think about saying this instead, in a very calm, relaxed voice:

"That's not a problem. (Gentle pause.) Quite a few of our clients originally had not allocated a budget for this, mostly because they hadn't become aware of all their options.

Would you be open to a different perspective on how this could impact your business and provide you with a solid return?"

When prospects express a concern and you reply in a very calm, relaxed voice, "That's not a problem," you're validating whatever they said as having truth. "That's not a problem" immediately defuses any tension and allows you both to continue your dialogue.

You're not jumping frantically into defending your product or service -- you're simply suggesting that it might make sense to continue your conversation to see if there really is a justification for solving a problem they might have.

One More Advantage…

Here's one more benefit you're likely to experience if you start thinking about concerns rather than objections: less stress. Sherri put it well when she called me back the other day:

"Ari, I have to tell you how much more effortless and relaxed my sales conversations have been since I started thinking about 'concerns' instead of 'objections.' It's made a huge difference. I can almost see prospects breathe a sigh of relief when they raise a concern and I respond to them with a gentle 'That's not a problem,' and they realize I'm not trying to deny their concerns or steamroller them."

If you consider a different mindset that looks at "objections" as "concerns," you too may find that they can turn into gateways instead of roadblocks.

4 Classic Cold Calling Mistakes

Have you noticed that the old "tried and true" cold calling techniques which were once successful have completely lost their effectiveness over the years? They just don’t work anymore.

But many salespeople are still use them because that’s all they know. They’re working from that old, ineffective cold calling mindset. And they’re making the same mistakes over and over again.

I’d like to talk about 4 classic cold calling mistakes from the old traditional approach that will put you on the wrong path if you’re not careful.

1. Deliver a strong, enthusiastic sales pitch

People almost always feel "pushed" by sales enthusiasm, especially when it’s coming from someone they don’t know.

You see, a strong sales pitch includes the unspoken assumption that your product or service is a great fit for the other person. But think about it. You’ve never spoken with them before, much less had a full conversation. You can’t possibly know much about them at this point.

So to them, you’re just another salesperson who wants them to buy something. And so the walls go up.

It’s much better to modestly assume you know very little about your prospect. Invite them to share some of their concerns and difficulties with you. And allow them to guide the conversation, rather than your pre-ordained strategy or pitch.

2. Your goal is to always make the sale

When your target in cold calling is to always make the sale, prospects are aware of your agenda. And almost immediately, they’re on the defensive. After all, you’re primarily focused on yourself and the sale – not on them.

In the old traditional mindset, you forge ahead with the hope of getting a sale. You’re coaxing, persuading, and pushing things forward.

But most cold calls break down the moment the other person feels this sales pressure.

Why? Because they don’t know you, and they don’t trust you.

So the sales momentum you’re trying to create actually triggers a backlash of suspicion and resistance. They’re trying to protect themselves from a potential "intruder" with what appears to them as a self-serving agenda.

Instead, you can approach cold calling with a different goal. Your focus can be on discovering whether you’re able to solve a problem for the other person.

When you become a problem-solver, this feels vastly different to the person you’re talking to. You’re not triggering rejection. You’re calling with 100 percent of your thoughts and energy focused on their needs, rather than on making a sale.

3. Focus on the end of the conversation – that’s when sales are lost

If you believe that you lose sales because you’ve made a mistake at the end of the process, you’re looking in the wrong direction. Most mistakes are made at the beginning of a cold calling conversation.

You see, it’s at the beginning that you convey whether you’re honest and trustworthy. If you’ve started out your cold call with a high-pressured sales pitch, then you’ve probably lost the other person in just a few seconds.

When you follow a sales script, strategy, or presentation, then you’re not allowing a natural, trusting conversation to evolve. So the "problem" has been put into motion by your very first words. So the place to put all your focus is at the beginning of the cold call, not at the end.

4. Overcome and counter all objections

Most traditional sales programs spend a lot of time focusing on overcoming objections. But these tactics only put more sales pressure on your prospect, which triggers resistance. And you also fail to explore or understand the truth behind what’s being said.

When you hear, "We don't have the budget," or, "Call me in a few months," you can uncover the truth by replying, "That's not a problem."

And then using gentle, dignified language, you can invite them to reveal the truth about their situation.

So move away from the old sales mindset and try this new way of approaching your cold calling. You’ll find yourself being more natural, and others will respond to you in a much more positive way.

Asset Disposal in Greater London

The UK's government are currently attending a UN conference on climate change and trying to find ways to curb our greenhouse gas emissions.  At the same time, London's Mayor is attempting to curb excessive waste disposal by Businesses and corporations.

The mayor has implemented a number of recycling initiatives to reduce waste.  This year alone the Congestion charge was extended to cover greater London .  The aim is to increase the amount of waste being recycled from the 20 percent predicted in 2003 to over 60 percent.

Londoners produce 3.4 million tonnes of rubbish each year, a large proportion of which is electrical and electronic waste. The implementation of the WEEE directive in 2007 aimed to curb this problem by getting us to recycle our old Televisions, computers and general electrical waste.  In Greater London, where businesses predominate,  the issue of waste electronic equipment is more predominant and constitutes the majority of hardware disposed of each year.

London businesses are constantly uprgading computer systems, buying replacement shredders and replacing out-of-date photocopiers, faxes and printers.  The waste by-product was previously discarded in the general waste stream, which ended up on a barge heading for an incinerator further down the Thames Estury.

The Recycle for London initiative, founded by and headed up by the Mayor of London, was implemented to help reduce this waste.  Long before the WEEE directive came into force, London businesses were recycling their paper, plastics and toner cartridges.  The WEEE directive meant that it became a legal requirement for offices to recycle their old electronics as well.  In Greater London, this has had the impact of many new Companies springing up to meet with the demands of the thousands of businesses needing to recycle their old computers, servers, faxes, photocopiers and printers.

It's also had the added effect of reducing the work carried out by waste disposal firms in London, which are funded by Council taxes.  The result, in the long term will be a redistribution of the cash gleaned from taxes into more urgent sectors.

How To Make Your Marble Tiles Last Longer

Marble is a stone commonly polished and utilized in fine building work, furniture, or decorative art, and may be white or colored. Marble is porous, and easily stained, or etched by acids. Should this happen, wipe off any spills immediately, as you would on a wood surface. Avoid setting beverage glasses directly on marble as they leave rings.

To preclude stains and soil from being absorbed into its porous surface, it would be best to seal marble with a paste or sealer. Acids must not come in direct contact with marble as they generally etch the surface. Alkaline solutions will be absorbed by the marble and break down the surface leaving it rough. If marble tiles are properly sealed, damp-mopping should keep it clean. If soil does not remove easily, wash the tile with a solution of mild detergent and water, then rinse thoroughly. Remove stains promptly.

Removing Stains from Marble Tiles

Get an absorbent material such as a napkin, paper towel or facial tissue. Dampen with a recommended chemical to dissolve the stain; mix whiting with the chemical to make a soft paste to cover the stain. The wipe should be left on the stain from 1 to 48 hours, depending on the age and depth of the stain. Plastic wrap, held in place by masking tape, can be put over the wiping agent to keep it damp. Mix only enough for immediate use; A fresh batch should be mixed if a second application is needed.

Acids: Fruit juice, carbonated beverages or other acids will etch, or damper shiny surfaces, if allowed to remain on marble. Wipe up acid spill immediately, and wipe the surface with a wet cloth. If surface is etched, some form of polishing may be required.

Oil Stain: Oil stains may include butter, hand cream or lotion. As quickly as possible, spread surface with an absorbent fine powder such as whiting or even corn starch. After a short time, brush to remove and reapply more powder. Let stand 24 hours. To remove: Scrub with a hot detergent solution and stiff brush or wipe with ammonia-dampened cloth, and in either case, rinse and wipe dry. If all the oil alkaline solutions are not removed using these alkaline solutions, try a solvent. Make a wipe dampened with acetone or amyl acetate, or with a home dry cleaning fluid. Proper ventilation with windows open to remove odors, is necessary. Do not use near a spark or flame, and do not leave the solution on for too long.

Organic Stains: Tea, coffee, colors bleached from paper, textiles or soft drinks. Get a wiping material soaked with 20% peroxide, at hair bleaching strength, and add a few drops of ammonia.

Rust: Usually the result of metal items such as a lamp, metal container in which plant is placed etc. Use a commercial rust stain remover. Follow directions exactly and do not leave on surface for long periods as acid in many rust removers can etch the surface.

For general maintenance, it is advised to dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasive qualities. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone floor. Ensure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface.