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Articles from September 18, 2011

Choosing the Right Credit Card Processing Terminal

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If you are considering getting a merchant account so your business can accept credit cards, you are probably wondering what kind of credit card terminal will be best for you. There are many things to consider when choosing your terminal; here are some of the most important aspects of your decision.

First off, think about if you really need a credit card terminal. If you run a mail order business or take sales over the Internet, you probably don't need a terminal, but if you run a business where you deal with your customers in person, you'll want to have a machine where they can swipe their cards.

Next you need to consider the type of connection your terminal needs to have. The old credit card machines used a telephone line to connect and complete the transaction. This is still a good choice if you have a dedicated phone line (or can share a phone line between the card terminal and your fax machine, for instance).

Newer models use Internet connections or even wireless connections, which may be a better option if your business is already wired for Internet. Talk to your payment processing company to determine what sort of transmission type is right for you.

You also need to think about exactly what you need your credit card terminal to do. Would you like it to print out two receipts automatically, for instance, or would you rather use carbon paper? Or would you prefer a terminal that includes a pad and electronic pen so the customer can "sign" directly on the terminal?

You can even get Tap and Go terminals that allow customers with certain cards to literally tap their cards on the machine and get instant approval. Customers without those cards can still swipe their regular credit card, and no signature is required.

Another option you might want to consider is whether you want a credit card terminal that can also allow you to accept debit cards. These machines have a keypad that allows users to enter their PIN number.

Accepting debit cards is great for you because you don't pay all the fees you pay if you accept a debit card without allowing the customer to enter his or her PIN. It's a very secure transaction method and something you definitely should think about.

When thinking about what kind of credit card terminal to get, consider all your options and weigh your needs and the needs of your customers against the price of different terminals your payment processor offers. Some processors even provide equipment for free, which makes it even more attractive to get all the features you want.

Answers to 5 Questions about Ty Coughlin and the Reverse Funnel System

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Among those looking for home business opportunities, there is a lot of buzz about Ty Coughlin and the Reverse Funnel System. What, exactly is a reverse funnel system and who is Ty Coughlin? Read on to find out....

1. What is the Reverse Funnel System?

The reverse funnel system refers to the way that prospects are accepted into a specific home-based business opportunity. Instead of simply collecting names of prospects, many of whom may not be serious about the business opportunity, a reverse funnel system asks prospects to pay a fee in order to get additional information about the opportunity. The fee is relatively low - usually about $50 - and serves to weed out prospects who are not inclined to follow through with the business opportunity. The reverse funnel system is sometimes known as a "funded proposal" or "funded prospect" system. If you sign up for the system and launch your own business, you will generally get a significant percentage of the prospect fees that are paid through your referrals.

2. Who is Ty Coughlin?

Ty Coughlin is the person who has used and codified the Reverse Funnel System to make it profitable for others. According to his biography, Ty Coughlin lives in Hawaii and worked for a construction company prior to owning his own business. He had also tried multi-level marketing, and eventually came up with his own Internet-based system that utilizes Internet marketing and advertising. His system has proven to be a roadmap to riches for many people, since it has few variables.

3. What Actions are Required?

Once a person is accepted into the program, he or she has to take high converting advertisements developed by Ty Coughlin and then place those ads. As leads start coming in, the person has to answer any questions that arrive through email and attend a daily conference call.

4. Does it Cost Money to Start the Business?

All business owners invest money to launch their businesses, and the Reverse Funnel System is no exception. However, when compared to other business opportunities, such as franchises that can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, this home business opportunity costs around five thousand dollars. The person who signs up is responsible for paying the prospect fee, as well as the costs of marketing and advertising the business. Typically, however, there is a money back guarantee. If a person is not accepted into the business, their prospect fee is refunded.

5. What are the Advantages to the Reverse Funnel System?

According to the website of Ty Coughlin, there are many advantages. There is a potential for making 6 figures in 6 months, access to a proven system that can produce seven different income streams, and business automation advice. In addition, the system is self-replicating, so new business owners don't have to have a lot of knowledge about building websites or Internet marketing.

Who Cares Wins

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Am I alone in being frustrated on an almost daily basis when dealing with suppliers? I'm convinced the ‘who cares' attitude is spreading like an epidemic. Let me give you a quick run down of just one of this week's fiascos to demonstrate what I mean.

A package from one of my suppliers was overdue for delivery from a well known courier company, even though the tracking showed that it had been sitting on a shelf in the local depot for several days. Now, I live in a reasonable size city, Salt Lake City in fact, which has a decent size population and infrastructure – heck, there's even an IKEA, and there ain't many of those across the U.S. I'm not talking about Barstow here (no offence to Barstow readers, I'm not picking on you, I promise).

Anyway, so I get on the phone with the ‘customer service' advisor who tells me that they only deliver on certain days of the week - I'm serious! Apparently however, I'm permitted to trudge the 15 miles out there to collect the package if I want it before they were ready to find a slot in their random delivery schedule.

I considered pursuing the line of reasoning that since I'd paid for two day shipping, I'd kinda' hoped that I'd see it within 2 days of ordering, but I thought better of it. I didn't want to appear unreasonable or demanding. Instead I bit my tongue and dutifully trotted off down to the depot and stood my turn in line until permitted to utter my request.

Not much to do while waiting, other than eavesdrop on a phone conversation between a customer and a ‘support' rep. Obviously I couldn't hear the customer, but fortunately in this instance, the rep had a habit of repeating the caller almost verbatim, which under normal circumstances would have been highly irritating.

Anyway, I digress. This is how the conversation went:

“So you're saying that the driver threw the box over your fence, is that right?”

(customer replies)

“Well, obviously I wasn't there, but I'm sure he just wanted to make sure the package was hidden from the view of any passers by.”

(customer replies)

“Oh, you're saying the fence is 7ft high?”

(customer replies)

“And the antique set was smashed?”

(customer replies)

“Mmm, that happens a lot. I hope it was insured.”

I'm not making this up, I wish I was. At that point I was feeling absolutely thrilled that I'd escaped with only having to go outside in the freezing cold in the middle of the winter and drive 15 miles - it was a relief to know that I'd intercepted the sequence of doom, before my box had got to the throwing over the fence part.

I got my box, and little did it know that it had been spared the physical trauma that apparently was a standard feature. I didn't even throw the box away after emptying its contents, it seemed cruel, it needed protecting…

Okay, so I got a little carried away, but actually I'm deadly serious about the lesson here. Customer service is such a rare commodity that it's in danger of becoming extinct.

Let's face it, the times when we experience great service with a smile are now so rare that we tell everyone, and they're suitably impressed.

If providing outstanding customer service and keeping customers happy is a high priority for you and your staff, you'll immediately put your business a giant leap ahead of all your competitors. It's such a ridiculously simple principle to comprehend, but sadly many more overlook it than ‘get it'. Be one of the ones who gets it. Give it time and your business will explode over the long-term, I guarantee it.

7 Pitfalls of Using Email to Sell

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* Fear of rejection. The sheer negative force of anticipating rejection makes people turn to e-mail to generate new prospect relationships because it hurts less to not get a reply than to hear that verbal "no."

* Getting blocked by gatekeepers and voicemail. When salespeople don't know how to break through the barriers of gatekeepers and voicemail, they start thinking, "Forget it -- it's not worth the aggravation, and it takes too much energy. I'll just e-mail instead."

However, when you try to use e-mail to offer your product or service to someone who doesn't know you, you can't possibly establish the natural dialogue between two people that allows the trust level to reach the level necessary for a healthy, long-term relationship.

We all know how much everyone hates e-mail spam, but even so, many salespeople are still sending introductory e-mails to decisionmakers. They feel that, because they're from a credible organization, they won't be associated with the negative image of a spam solicitor.

However, these introductory e-mails typically contain the traditional three-part sales pitch -- the introduction, a mini-presentation about the products and services being offered, and a call to action -- and this traditional selling approach instantly tells the recipient of the e-mail that your only goal is to sell your product or service so you can attain your goals, and not theirs.

If you're still using email to sell, watch out for these 7 pitfalls:

1. Avoid sales pitches. If you feel you must use e-mail to start a new relationship, make your message about issues and problems that you believe your prospects are having, but don't say anything to indicate that you're assuming that both of you are a match.

2. Stop thinking that e-mail is the best way to get to d ecisionmakers. Traditional selling has become so ineffective that salespeople have run out of options for creating conversation, both over the phone and in person. However, it's best to view e-mail as a backup option only, not as a way to create new relationships. Try to use it primarily for sending information and documents after you've developed a relationship with a prospect.

3. Remove your company name from the subject line. Whenever you put your company and solution first, you create the impression that you can't wait to give a presentation about your

product and services. Your subject line should be a humble reference to issues that you may be able to help prospects solve.

4. Stop conditioning your prospects to hide behind e-mail. When you e-mail prospects, it's easy for them to avoid you by not responding. Also, they get used to never picking up the phone and having a conversation with you -- and they may want to avoid you because they're afraid that, if they show interest in what you have to offer, you'll try to close them. This creates sales pressure -- the root of all selling woes. This avoidance becomes a vicious circle. If you learn to create pressure-free conversations, you'll find that you'll start getting phone calls from prospects who aren't afraid to call you.

5. Avoid using e-mail as a crutch for hand ling sticky sales situations. Are prospects not calling you back? Many salespeople who call me for coaching ask how they can get themselves out of sticky situations with prospects -- but the e-mails they've sent have already triggered those prospects to retreat. It's tricky to come up with the correct softening language in an e-mail that will re-open a conversation with a prospect who has decided to close off communication -- direct, person-to-person phone calls or meetings are much easier and more human.

6. Avoid  using "I" and "we." When you start an introductory e-mail with "I" or "we," you immediately give the impression that you care only about selling your solution, rather than being open to a conversation that may or may not lead to a mutually beneficial match between what you have to offer and the issues your prospect may be trying to solve. If you can change your sales language to a natural conversation, your prospect will be less likely to stereotype your message as a spam solicitation.

Finally...

7. If you can, stop using e-mail selling altogether. There is a way to renew your confidence and eliminate your reluctance to picking up the phone and have pleasant conversations with potential prospects. Learn a completely new way of working with gatekeepers that will get you past voicemail and to your decisionmakers without the rejection and frustration that are inevitable with traditional selling approaches.

For all these reasons, you should think of e-mail as your last resort. If you can learn to pick up the phone without fear, start a trusting conversation with a gatekeeper, learn how to go beyond voice mail and find your decisionmakers, you'll join the many who have made their own personal selling breakthrough.

Coal Helps America Through Power and Jobs

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You may not realize it, but the coal industry plays a large part in the U.S. economy.

One major way coal affects the economy is through electricity. The majority of America's electricity comes from coal. So when coal prices are low, like they are right now, electricity is cheaper and the lower prices spur economic growth.

Electricity is a crucial part of American life. In fact, it is a $200 billion a year commodity, making it the largest commodity in the United States.

When the prices for large commodities, like electricity, stay low or go down, inflation stays low. So, commodity price fluctuations prove to be strong economic indicators.

The lower electric rates from low coal prices can affect inflation rates now and in the future. And low interest rates can help protect the savings and investments of millions of Americans.

In addition, new technology is linked to electricity usage and thus the economy. The increasing purchase and use of technological advances, like computers, cell phones and personal data organizers, greatly increases consumption of electricity from coal. Therefore, when consumers purchase these items, they drive the economy in two ways: with their purchase and with their electricity usage.

America's need for electricity from coal can also be seen in the almost direct relationship between electricity use and economic activity. For example, every 1 percent increase in the gross domestic product has caused about a 1 percent increase in electricity demand.

In addition to electricity, coal affects the economy through job creation, revenue and taxes. The coal industry and related business have created more than 90,000 jobs in the United States alone and almost 1 million jobs worldwide.

Thirty-seven billion dollars, or nearly 1 percent of all the earnings of Americans, comes from coal-related work.

The value of coal produced in the United States each year is nearly $18 billion. Coal mining has a combined direct and indirect impact of $161 billion annually on the U.S. economy. This is $596 for every U.S. citizen.

California and New York are two of the states benefiting most from coal, yet they are not home to any coal mining. In fact, every U.S. state benefits economically from coal.

Coal businesses pay more than $11 billion in federal taxes each year. Nine billion dollars in coal revenues go to state and local governments annually.

Female Business leaders becoming the norm

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Anousheh Ansari, Abigail Johnson, Martha Stewart & Oprah. What does all these women have in common? They are successful entrepreneurs.

Leading the group of successful female entrepreneurs is Anousheh Ansari, founder of Telecom Technologies Inc and Prodea Systems. Anousheh has sold multiple companies, her first being TTI Inc – she is now onto Sonus Network Inc. Anousheh Ansari is also an avid supporter of the sciences, not only having been to space herself but also setting up "the X Prize", a contest which helps finance companies looking to perform private space exploration.

Many female entrepreneurs entered business through a husband or family member, but then rose to outshine their significant other. Abigail Johnson for example runs Fidelity investments, a company her father originally setup, but she grew to be worth over twelve Billion dollars. Similarly, Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler has grown her husbands business in Germany to over six billion dollars.

It is hard to discuss financial successful women without mentioning media icons like Oprah - the daytime talk show host whose media empire's worth has exceeded a billion dollars.There is also <a href=http://www.marthastewart.com/>Martha Stewart) who (when she's not in jail) also runs a home making tv show, magazine and book series which has a book value well over a billion dollars.

Examples of smaller businesses founded by female entrepreneurs include <a href=http://www.canadianbusiness.com/rankings/w100/list.jsp?pageID=profile&profile=48&year=2007&type=profile&listType=W100>henderson bas ), and online marketing firm founded by Dawna Henderson. Dawna also recently led her company to be partially acquired by multinational conglomerate MDC partners – more information about the acquisition is available at the New York Times article: <a href=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E2D8113AF934A15757C0A9629C8B63&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/F/Finances/> MDC Partners acquires stake in henderson bas).

Many women still face discrimination in the workforce and business though. Women statistically earn less than men; this decreases their ability to walk away from a job to start their own company. Many people still maintain age old stereotypes that women are inferior to men in performing specific tasks, making it difficult for women to start businesses in male dominated fields.  Nevertheless, there is no question female leadership in businesses is growing: Women are now 2x as likely to start a new business than men are. In other words, women are becoming the powerhouses of new economies, creating money and jobs all over the world.

What Do You Think When You Read, "Entrepreneurs Wanted"?

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What would you think if you saw a sign that read, "Entrepreneurs Wanted"? Many people would see such a sign as a rare opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream. They've long envisioned a life where they could make their own hours, follow their passions, and not have to feel as though the people above them are trying to keep them down. Others would view such a sign with suspicion. They might ask, "What's the catch?" They might even come up with a list of reasons why they can't take a chance, begin a new self-made career, and become more successful than they ever thought possible.

While a degree of skepticism can be healthy, all too often people talk themselves out of a business opportunity because, well, they're scared. They might even look at the lives of successful people and think that those people were simply lucky; that they were at the right place at the right time. In fact, the difference between those people who are incredibly successful and those who grind it out in an unfulfilling job day in and day out is that the successful people seize opportunities that come their way. The nine-to-fivers may look longingly at opportunities, but let them slip through their fingers.

Truth be told, there's never been a better time to find a business opportunity and follow your dreams. To a large extent, the Internet has leveled the playing field. If you have a computer and online access, there are unparalleled opportunities to create wealth. The question becomes, how do you separate the wheat from the chaff? How do you know when an opportunity is the real deal?

First, you need to drop any notion of finding success with multi-level marketing. While multi-level marketing may have made a few people at the top wealthy, no MLM today is creating wealth for those who are just joining.

Second, you need to forget direct sales. Very, very few people are have a natural talent for selling; for the rest of us, direct sales is difficult or impossible, and a sure path to frustration, discouragement, and failure.

Third, you need to embrace a company that has a proven system for marketing. So many Internet businesses fail today because business owners simply don't know how to market. After all, you can have the most attractive website in the world, but if you can't drive traffic to your site, you'll never see a penny.

Fourth, you need to find a great product. In this Information Age, the product should be related to the Internet and have enormous growth potential.

Fifth, you want to find affiliate with a company that will take the time to understand your personal and financial goals, and help you in any way they can to reach those goals. Essentially, it's the reverse of what you often find in the corporate world - where the people at the top keep you down. You want to find a business opportunity where the people at the top - the wealthmasters, so to speak - reach down and give you a hand up. They should be able to set you up with the carbon copy of a system that almost runs on auto pilot. They should have eliminated the need for selling, explaining, bothering people, and pitching friends and family. Instead, they should have perfected a powerful, automated, turnkey marketing system that provides you with the best home business opportunity on the planet.

When you've found that kind of company, you'll be glad that you took advantage of the "Entrepreneurs Wanted" sign!

Home Business Solutions for Earning a Residual Income

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Starting a home business is a huge step. Maybe you want to earn an extra income, extra spending money, or begin supporting your entire family with a home business. Either way, there are many home business solutions to choose from, and also many different ways to make money online.

Earning a Residual Income with Home Business Solutions

One way to build wealth from home is to begin building a residual income from one or more home business sources. A residual income is money you earn on a continual basis just from one customer or one sale. The more customers you obtain, the more ongoing income you'll have each month.

For example, you sign up with an online educational company that offers ongoing training. Students who sign on with this company pay a monthly fee. You earn a residual income each time the fees are paid for each student you sign up. The educational company receives new students, and you receive ongoing commissions. It's a win-win situation for both!

Another example of a residual income is when you sell Internet-related services that require a monthly or yearly payment, such as web hosting, domain name registration, Internet marketing services or custom web design services. These are only a few examples, but the Internet offers many "work from home" opportunities such as these where you can earn money month after month, year after year.

Finding the Right Home Business Solution

Now that you realize the potential of earning a residual income, it's time to find the right home business solution for you. Consider the amount of time, effort and money you'll be able to invest in your new home business. How much time can you dedicate to work from home? Do you work a full-time job right now? Are you on a very tight budget?

A home business will not build itself, but there are companies that will help you build your home business and even provide a website with all the resources you need. Some will even "make the sale" for you. The only drawback is that many of these home business solutions require a monetary investment. So, be sure it's the right business for you before investing.

Use Web Resources for Research

Thankfully, you have a wealth of information at your fingertips with the Internet. You can take your time and research "work from home" opportunities right from your own home any time of the day.

Find a reputable home business directory to search out profitable "work from home" solutions. There are directory websites that take special time and care to list only legitimate home business solutions so you won't have to sift through the good and the bad, and take unnecessary risks. Using a dependable directory will protect you from scams and keep your investment safe.

Warning: You should never sign on with a company and invest your money unless you've checked out the company and its background and history thoroughly. Be sure that you are dealing with a well-established company beforehand.

More Ideas for Earning a Residual Income

Here are some other possible home business solutions for earning a residual income. Choose a home business that you'll enjoy, and don't be afraid to try several at once. You might be surprised at the type of businesses that are successful online!

* MLM business.

* Internet marketing groups.

* Niche business start-ups.

* Working mom groups.

* Providing clerical services for others.

* Freelancing (writers, web designers, programmers, graphic designers, and so forth).

* Selling e-books on a variety of subjects.

Once you select one or a few of these ideas, evaluate the potential and your ability to achieve each one. Determine if these will fit in with your time and budget. Find others in the same fields and ask for pointers on getting started. Other successful business owners are usually very happy to help. Also, research through the search engines to find out how much income others are earning with the same or similar businesses. Once you've done research, it's time to get started.

There are many opportunities for the stay-home mom or the dad who would like to be home with the family too! The home business solutions listed above can be applied to a variety of skills and talents you may possess. Unlock your earning potential today!

Indian Textiles

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Indian textile tradition is the world's oldest textile tradition. The origin of indian textile can be traced back to the days of indus valley civilisation. The fragments of cotton material originating from gujarat found in the egyptian tombs support that discovery. There are occasional comments about the textile craft in most of the ancient indian writings as well. Indian textile was also exported to various countries since time immemorial. The history of vijayanagar empire (ad 1504), one of india's celebrated dynasties emphasize that textile was an important trade. Indian geography, climate, social customs, availability of the raw material etc defines the art of indian textile.

Manufactured and exported to various countries, indian textile has found a place in the global market. In an extensive range, variety and the textile products are offered, at economic prices. The contemporary Indian textile not only reflects the splendid past but also cater to the requirements of the modern times. The rich tradition of textile in India has been favored by a number of factors. The favorable factors leading to the extensive growth of textile tradition in India follows.

Textile can also make delicate crafts using various fabrics as basic material. The textile crafts ranges from dress making to embroidery, knitting etc. these crafts are basically undertaken a taste for fashion and/or producing various items such as clothing, furnishing, works of art etc. Clothes can make extremely elegant crafts by the keen craftsmen and using different techniques. The modern techniques of textile crafts include crochet and lace making, patchwork, and run making, spinning and weaving, tapestry, batik and tie dyeing.