If you're ready to leave the 9-to-5 job scene and start your own business from home, there's one way to do this with little expense or effort. Instead of starting from scratch, you can join with a company that offers a turn key, automated home based business. MLM programs online offer many added benefits, even when compared with off-line MLM opportunities. Let's explore these benefits and how they can help you earn a lucrative residual income from home.
Panama Investment Corporation
Investment corporations, also known as investment funds, are institutions of collective investment. They gather capital from the public to reinvest it collectively and diversely, therefore the investment risks are lower and the returns to the investors are in theory going to be enhanced. It is a Panama vehicle to raise third party investment funds.
Definition - An investment corporation in Panama is any judicial person (corporation or foundation), trust or contractual agreement that, through the issuance and sale of its own participation quotas, is dedicated to the business of obtaining monies from the investment public, through one time payments or periodical payments, with the object of investing and negotiating, either directly or through investment managers or administrators, investments in securities, bonds, options, futures, metals, real estate or any other recognized investment medium. The Panama investment corporations are entities that gather funds from the public to reinvest them collectively. The intent is that they can offer lower risks and costs of administration (reduced trading commissions for instance) and a professional capability of investment analysis, administration, follow up and financial control of the investment.
Investment Corporations Conducting a Public Offering in Panama
It is legally understood that a public offering of participation quotas of an investment corporation is taking place when it or its investment administrator, or another entity on behalf of it, offers securities through marketing and promotion activities in the territory of the Republic of Panama. These marketing and promotional activities are any form of communication targeting potential investors with the object of promoting the subscription or obtaining participation quotas (investments) in an investment corporation vehicle, and will be considered to be in the territory of the Republic of Panama as long as it is addressed to people domiciled in Panama. This is probably not of interest to many of you since you are reading this in English not Spanish. It is useful to read through this article to see how the law operates and how one can be excluded from registration which will probably be of great interest to you.
An investment corporation is considered to be administered in or from Panama when one of the following applies:
1. That the investment corporation designates an investment administrator in the Republic of Panama.
2. That the principal domicile of the investment corporation is located in the Republic of Panama, or the prospect or any other advertisement material indicates that it is located in Panama.
3. That the investment corporation designates a custodian in the Republic of Panama
4. That the directors necessary to adopt a resolution of the Board of Directors of the investment corporation have their domicile in Panama.
Investment Corporations Requiring Licensure with the Panama Securities Commission
1. Simple Investment Corporations: Only have one type of participation quotas and one investment portfolio.
2. Umbrella Investment Corporations: Have multiple series of participation quotas with different investment portfolios.
3. Multiple Class Investment Corporations: Have multiple series of participation quotas, each one of those series with different terms regarding the payment of commissions and subscription fees, redemptions and administrative fees.
4. Principal Fund Feed by other Funds: This is best described as an investment corporation that invests in other investment corporations.
Requirements for the Registration of an Investment Corporation in Panama
1. Name and incorporation information.
2. Legal and commercial domicile of the corporation.
3. Designation of an investment administrator who will have to have a License issued by the National Securities Commission. When the investment corporation will be administered for itself, the documentation regarding the person who will be the principal executive and the compliance officer must be submitted.
4. Designation of a custodian for the investment corporation.
5. Identification of the type of fund.
6. Authorized share capital and minimum capital to initiate the operation.
7. Amount of participation quotas required to be registered for public offering and value of the initial offer.
Documents to be Submitted with the Application
1. Authenticated copy of the articles of incorporation, which must establish that the corporation will exclusively operate as an investment corporation and the accounting books will be kept in Panama. Must be in Spanish but a certified English translation can be obtained.
2. Copy of passport or Panama Cedulla of Directors.
3. Audited financial statements or audited initial balance.
4. Curriculum Vitae of Directors and Dignitaries and Legal Representative.
5. Informative prospect of the investment corporation.
6. Signed contract with the investment administrator and signed contract with the custodian.
7. Draft Code of Conduct for those investment corporations that will assume their own administration and representation.
8. Advertisement and other publicity material that will be used by the investment corporation (everything that will be used even once).
9. Draft of the investment contract to be subscribed to every potential investor.
10. Draft Minutes of the Board of Directors establishing all terms and conditions related to the operation of the investment corporation.
Private Investment Corporations ? Registration Exempt
This type of investment corporations are not required to be registered in the Securities Commission and therefore are not subject to the rules that applies to registered investment corporations found above.
The Commission can sanction any representation or declaration that the investment corporation does, stating that it is registered in the Commission.
It is considered to be a private investment corporations when it is administered in the Republic of Panama or from the Republic of Panama, and has participation quotas that are not offered in the Republic of Panama and that its Articles of Incorporation includes one of the following two dispositions:
1. One disposition that limits the amount of effective owners of its participation quotas to 50, or that stipulated firmly that the offers for the investment will be done through private communications only and not through public communication such as web sites, newsletters, print or media ads etc.
2. A disposition that establishes that its participation quotas will only be offered to qualified investors in minimal initial investment amounts of $100,000.
The private investment corporations must designate a representative in Panama, who can be an licensed investment administrator, a securities house, a licensed investment advisor, a licensed Bank, an Accountant or a Lawyer, who must be able to dully represent the investment corporation before the Securities Commission at any time.
They must provide copy of the Articles of Incorporation, the Offering Prospectus, Audited Financial Statements, name and address of Directors. Yearly audited statements must be submitted.
Self-Administered Investment
When the investment corporation decides not to use an outside investment administrator, it must comply with the following:
1. The investment corporation must have at least 3 members of the Board of Directors, all of whom must have renowned business and professional honorability. They must be able to demonstrate that they are reputable well-regarded business professionals. This is generally established with reference letters, education and professional licensures.
2. At least one third of the members of the Board of Directors must have adequate knowledge and experience in fields related to securities market and financial market in general. This would be established through professional licenses, work experience, references and education.
3. Have a complete administrative and accounting organization, in addition to technical (Information Technology, Legal) and human resources for the administration of the investment corporation. They must be able to clearly demonstrate that all the pieces are in place to be able to competently and profitably administer the investment.
4. An internal code of conduct.
5. Designate a compliance officer that can ascertain all investment and due diligence requirements are being complied with.
This document was basically translated from Spanish Legalese and putting it into English Legalese which if you have ever tried it you would know it is not easy so do feel free to ask questions.
Clean the Hard Drive Before Dumping Your PC
(Clean the Hard Drive Before Dumping Your PC )
(If you're getting rid of your old computer, chances are there's sensitive data on it. Make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. )
By Kim Komando
If you're getting rid of your old computer there are some things you should know about it.
Chances are there's sensitive data on it. If you're like me, that PC's hard drive contains a compilation of your personal and (http://www.microsoft.com/india/smallbusiness/product_overview.mspx-business) life. If the wrong people were to grab it, they could hurt you and your business very seriously.
Is the Data Really Gone?
Here's the problem: An index of files is maintained for the hard drive, telling it where things are stored. When you install a file, especially a big one, it is scattered around the hard drive in bits and pieces. On your command to open the file, the hard drive checks the index, then gathers the pieces and reconstructs them.
When that file is deleted, the links between the index and the file disappear. That tells your system that the file is no longer needed and that hard drive space can be overwritten. But the deleted file remains on your computer. Only when it is overwritten do you begin to be safe. Even then, a specialist might be able to recover the old data.
Assuming you just deleted everything in preparation for saying goodbye to your PC, it is unlikely that the sensitive information has been overwritten. It's still sitting there, and anybody with the right software could find it.
Do You Trust the Recipient?
How you handle this really depends on where the computer is going. If a trusted employee or your Aunt Minnie is getting it, you can probably just delete everything. If you're selling it or giving it away to a stranger, you might want to do some more work.
So here are my four suggestions.
1. Give the Computer to a Trusted Employee, Friend or Family Member
If you trust who you give it to, I wouldn't put a lot of effort into destroying data. Recovering deleted data isn't automatic. A thief or con artist will have to get some specialised software and learn to use it. Lots of boring data would have to be sorted to find the good stuff. The average (honest) person isn't going to bother.
So if you give the PC to someone you trust, you should simply delete the files. More extensive work probably isn't worth the effort. Just be sure the recipient is honest.
2. Reformat the Hard Drive and Re-install the Operating System
Reformatting a disk prepares it to accept a new operating system. It also wipes out everything on the hard drive. That's your goal.
Reformatting will keep most people out of your old files. But specialised shareware exists to reclaim files after reformatting. If you do not know who will get the computer — or you do know and you don't trust them — stronger measures are required.
3. Buy Software and Overwrite the Disk, Again and Again and Again
If you don't know much about computers, this might be easier than Step 2. There are several programs that write gibberish to the hard drive. They promise that nobody will be able to find your files after the software is utilised.
Norton's SystemWorks includes an application called Wipe Info. OnTrack's DataEraser offers a similar feature, as does Jetico's BCWipe. There are more such applications on the Internet.
You can leave the operating system and other files on the hard disk, if you want. These programs can be set to overwrite only the unoccupied areas. The process can be slow, because they write to the disk repeatedly. You might want to run it overnight.
4. You're Totally Paranoid, so Get Out the Acetylene Torch
I'm not kidding. The only absolute and assured way of protecting your data is to destroy the hard drive. To do that, you need to remove it from the computer.
The Pentagon shreds its hard drives. That should work, assuming you can find a hard-drive shredder. I've never seen one.
You need to destroy the platters inside. Try smashing them with a hammer. Destroying them with a torch should work.
Step 4 seems excessive to me. But you're right to be paranoid about this. Identity theft is becoming more and more common. Be careful, no matter who gets the computer.
Popcorn and Other Marketing Mistakes In a Changing Economy
Ten years of competitive hell!
That was the title on the seminar brochure I received recently. As I survey some of the forces flowing through our economy, and witness the way in which they effect my clients, I have to agree. The Information Age is certainly one of the most turbulent times business people have ever seen.
And the force causing the greatest turbulence is rapid, unrelenting change. Consider this. In 1900, the total amount of knowledge that mankind had was doubling about every 500 years. Today, it doubles about every two years. And the pace continues to increase. One futurist predicts that today's high school seniors will have to absorb more information in their final year alone than their grandparents did in their entire life.
At the same time that things are changing rapidly, competition is increasing in almost every industry. Foreign competitors have entered our markets, the wave of corporate downsizing has transformed thousands of displaced executives into reluctant entrepreneurs, and the knowledge explosion continues to evidence itself in new technologies that often provide radically different ways of accomplishing some task.
The result?
Burgeoning competition in almost every industry. I have yet to meet an executive who has said, "I have fewer competitors today than I did three years ago." Continually growing numbers of competitors seems to be a characteristic of our economy that we are going to have to live with for the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately, these forces of rapid change and growing competition have brought a cloud of confusion to CEOs and sales executives trying to grow their businesses.
One common response to this cloud of confusion is what I call "Popcorn." Imagine kernels of popcorn simmering in hot oil in the bottom of a popcorn popper. As the heat grows, one of the kernels explodes and rockets off against the side of the popper. A few moments later, another kernel explodes and shoots off in another direction. Before long, the canister is full of careening kernels bouncing in every direction.
That's my analogy to the way in which many businesses attempt to increase their sales when the temperature created by growing competition gets hot. As the heat of the situation grows, they know they have to do something. Then along comes a good idea and, pop, like a kernel of exploding popcorn, they lunge at the good idea.
The good idea can be anything. Maybe it's a media representative who suggests a new advertisement. That sounds like a good idea. So, "pop" off they go after that. Or it could be a salesperson suggesting that a computer program will solve their problems. That sounds like a good idea, so "pop," off they go after that good idea. Next is an advertising agency suggesting a new brochure. That also sounds good, and "pop," like kernels of corn exploding in every direction, they expend money and energy in short term "good ideas."
Like kernels of popcorn, they frantically chase lots of good ideas hoping that one will be the answer to the marketing problems. The problem is that these good ideas rarely have any relationship to one another. And, they generally present superficial solutions to problems which are often deeper. The company's time and energy is diverted toward these superficial "good ideas," and away from the deeper solutions.
For example, an advertisement in a trade journal may be a superficial solution for a company that does not have a system for identifying qualified prospects. And a new brochure may be a superficial response for an organization that doesn't have feedback mechanism in place to adequately understand its customers.
The unfortunate consequences are often more pressure, more confusion, and more energy expended in the wrong places.
Is there a better way? Sure. A far more effective response is to create a powerful sales and marketing system. A sales and marketing system provides an interconnected, measurable set of processes and tools that ultimately result in increased sales. Where would McDonald's be today without a system to consistently produce hot hamburgers? Where would Ford be if they had no system to design and build new automobiles? The keys to success for these businesses has been their ability to create and manage effective systems to accomplish their goals.
Sales and marketing can be treated in exactly the same way. The process of acquiring customers and then expanding the business with them can be systematized. If you're successful in creating a working system, you'll be investing your resources in the most effective way, and producing predictable, regular sales results.
Your sales and marketing system should start with a thorough understanding of the needs and interests of the prospects. Fold into that an honest awareness of the unique value your company brings to the market, and you have the beginning framework for your system. Your system should focus on the highest potential market segments, and develop segment-specific processes and tools to help you reach your market in the most cost-effective way.
When your system is designed, you'll also have a set of criteria in place to help you adequately assess the potential in such things as advertisements, brochures, computer programs, etc.
A well-designed system allows you to move out of the desperate reactive mode characterized by "Popcorn" and into a confident pro-active mode.
Here are seven questions to determine whether you're operating from the "Systems" perspective or the "Popcorn" mind set.
1. Do you have specific, realistic objectives for your sales and marketing efforts?
2. Have you precisely identified your highest potential markets segments?
3. Have you identified the sequence of decisions that a typical prospect goes through to come to a decision to buy your product or service?
4. Have you identified the key activities and processes that must take place on a monthly basis in order for you to reach your sales objectives?
5. Do you have a monthly measurement of the quantity and quality of your key marketing activities?
6. Are you able to track exactly how much it costs to create a customer?
7. Do all of your marketing collateral (brochures, ads, etc.) directly support the purposes and processes of your system?
Obviously, a positive answer to those questions indicates that you have a well defined sales and marketing system in place. That means that you have gone from reactive to pro-active marketing, and that you're well on your way to regular, predictable sales. Negative answers mean that you have some work to do to bring your sales and marketing efforts into a proactive mode to allow you to successfully compete in the turbulent 21st Century.
The Transformation of the Home Based Business Opportunity
There's never been a better time to dive into the business world and claim your slice of the pie. Thanks in large part to the Internet, the playing field has become more level. To start a successful business, you don't need hundreds of thousands of dollars of capital; you don't even need an office. You simply need a computer, an Internet connection, the right idea, and the will to succeed.
Why the Old Model Didn't Work
Indeed, the home based business opportunity has undergone a transformation - and an upgrade. It used to be that, to make money from home, you had to affiliate with a network marketing company that expected you to sell products at home parties and pester your family members and friends - and their friends. It was only when (or in most cases, if) you established a downline that you could begin earning residual income. The problem with that business model is that most of the people who sought income opportunities were so far down the proverbial food chain that they could never truly succeed.
New Money Making Opportunities
Today, the information superhighway is open to all, which means that opportunities to make money on the Internet abound. Some people choose to earn money online in order to supplement their existing income, while others look for a money making opportunity that will enable them to get out of the rat race and truly achieve wealth.
While the Internet might be seen as the great equalizer, not everyone who tries to make money online succeeds. That's because throwing up a website and hoping that people will find it simply doesn't work. There are too many websites out there competing for the same eyeballs. Instead, the most successful home based business opportunity is one where you connect with another company that has all the systems in place to ensure that you can begin driving traffic to your site on day one.
Advertising, Multiple Revenue Streams, and More
Internet advertising is both an art and a science, and an area that takes a great deal of experimentation and ongoing refinement in order to be effective. When you are reviewing a potential home based business opportunity, be sure that the company has Internet marketing gurus who can provide you with high-conversion advertisements and who can tell you exactly where to place your ads. The right kind of advertising in the right places will make the difference between success and failure.
In order to earn money online, then, you need traffic that's generated from advertising. You also need multiple revenue streams. Ideally, you should have at least seven different revenue streams across a number of industries in order to succeed. Again, the company with which you affiliate can provide you with the variety that you need.
Needless to say, to earn money online you need to approach your venture like a business. In other words, you do need to make an initial investment (although it's a fraction of what it would cost to start a business offline), and you need to commit to working a certain number of hours per week. For those who have been burned by the traditional network marketing system, though, this should be a cakewalk.
Croupier Training specifically for the casino environment
In the world the main classic games played in (http://www.laisladorada.com- casino online) and in normal casinos are Blackjack, Roulette, Video Poker, Baccarat, Craps, 5 Reel Slots, 3 Reel Slots, Keno, Pai Gow, Progressive Caribbean Poker and Progressive Slots. Croupiers and dealers throw dice, spin the roulette wheel and deal cards in a casino.
The employment of a croupier includes:
- welcoming new players to the table
- checking that all chips are positioned on the table before the start of play
- checking to ensure that there are four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) and that each suit has 13 cards
- explaining the rules to players
- controlling the game and making sure players follow the rules
- collecting chips from losing bets
- mentally calculating payouts to winners.
Croupiers work under the control of a gaming supervisor, who is generally in charge of two tables. Inspectors certify that gaming rules are followed and pay attention for any doubtful behavior.
To become a croupier you will first need working in a casino or casino company. You will then take delivery of on-the-job training. To work in a casino you have to:
- adult
- have a excellent general education
- have a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check - you cannot work as a croupier if you have illegal convictions
- have normal color vision, good hearing and clear verbal communication.
At your interview you may have to pass:
-a maths test to check that you can do mental calculations
-a test of your manual agility.
It could be valuable if you have practice of working with the public and managing money.
You can find casinos from the casino company sites and approach them to realize about vacancies. Navigate in the British Casino Association website (in Further Information) for a list of the main casino companies. However, you may be able to progress to management after gaining practice as a dealer or croupier.
To work as a croupier you will need to get a license from the Gambling Commission, the organization that regulates gambling. Gaining a license will engage productively completing a program of training. This will generally be a paid on-the-job preparation course, provided by your employer. Courses last between six and eight weeks and include the skills and techniques you will need as a dealer or croupier, casino legislation and customer service.
Casino companies who do not have their own in-house training will pay for your training with a private training organization. When you have finished your training your tutor will apply for your license.
When you have two/three years practice in a casino and the facility to deal at least three various games, you may be able to apply for a position on a cruise ship, in an overseas casino, or in an online casino featuring live dealers via webcam using real-time video streaming. To work in non-English speaking countries you must have a good familiarity of the correct language. To work in important casinos in Las Vegas or MonteCarlo, you will need extensive and varied experience, and the ability to pass a dealing audition.
published by www.laisladorada.com/en
Asian Furniture
The delicate and timeless beauty of Asian furniture is currently experiencing an unparalleled popularity in American interior design.
An Overview of Asian Furniture
The name “Asian Furniture” is a general term, describing all home dИcor products - including art and furniture – from the countries of China, Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and often India. It also includes the (now antique) items crafted during the British occupation, mostly of furniture from India and Burma, including contemporary reproductions in this style.
Although very similar in basic design, each of these countries produces furniture and art that is specific to its own culture. For instance, while the Shoji screen originated in China, it was then reinvented in Japan and is now considered a wholly Japanese export. Feng Shui design philosophy is singularly Chinese, while Southeast Asian furniture often displays Hindu-influenced carvings over very dark wood.
Origins of The Oriental Style
Also known as “Oriental Furniture”, Asian-styled furniture is very often crafted from teak wood, and is usually based on the Buddhist principles of living simply and in harmony with one’s surroundings. Asian furniture is a blend of form and function, where art and design are intended to be both beautiful and purposeful. In the interest of blending Western and Eastern styles, it is increasingly popular to find Shoji screens that reflect traditional Western tastes. More colors are becoming available, and designers have begun to take liberties in creating more daring and expressive fusion pieces.
Perhaps the most famous Asian dИcor item is the Shoji screen. Made from latticed wood and rice paper, it is becoming increasingly common to see Shoji doors, Shoji lamps, and Shoji room dividers, even in traditionally Western homes and offices. Other popular Asian furniture items are cabinets and accessories, typically ornamented with striking mother-of-pearl inlay.
Asian Furniture Today
Today the largest markets and manufacturers of Oriental furniture are Korea and Taiwan, although much is also manufactured in the US, Europe and Australia. The top importers of Asian furniture and home dИcor are the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada.
Whether you are creating your very own “Dojo”, crafting an intentional meditative space, or if you are simply drawn to the beauty and craftsmanship of Asian furniture, you are certain to find inspiration in the timelessness and transportive qualities of this truly dazzling style.
Article Source: http://www.emassive.com/Asian_Furniture.htm
Beating Crime with Printers
Perhaps it would be naive to think that the 21st century governments would stop at monitoring your every move on the street. Pause for a minute to contemplate what the next level of tracking could include. The answer is laser printers. If you think a document from your colour laser printer doesn't carry your name, think again.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) claims that it has cracked the tracking codes embedded in Xerox Corporation's DocuColor laser printers. Such codes are simply one of the numerous ways manufacturers employ technology to help governments fight currency counterfeiting.
The United States government is allegedly involved with a number of other companies in separate anti-counterfeiting programmes meant to prevent currency from being scanned and printed. The U.S. government, however, is not the only country teaming with the printing industry to fight counterfeiters. A few experts believe that the Dutch government is also using similar anti-counterfeiting methods through Canon’s encoding technology.
Researchers in the U.S. have uncovered patterns of yellow dots arranged in 15 by 8 grids and printed repeatedly over every colour page. The dots, however, are visible only with a magnifying glass or under blue light, which causes the yellow dots to appear black. The code appears as a grid of microscopic yellow dots, each less than a millimeter in diameter. These millimeter-sized dots appear about every inch on a printed page, nestled within the words and margins. By analyzing various test pages printed by supporters worldwide, researchers found that some of the dots correspond to the printers' serial numbers, and other dots refer to the date and time of the printing.
Consider two documents – one carrying the author's name and one meant to be anonymous. By comparing the codes, it can be determined whether the two documents were printed by the same printer, even if Xerox reveals nothing about a customer's serial number. The EFF is now studying printers from other well-known manufacturers with similar tracking codes, but whose keys remain secret.
Unlike inkjet printers, laser printers, copiers, and fax machines fire a laser through a mirror and series of lenses to embed the document or image on a page. Such devices range from a little over Ј80 to more than Ј1000, and are designed for both home and office use.
Peter Crean, a senior research fellow at Xerox, says the company pioneered this technology about 20 years ago because several countries had expressed concern about selling the printers in their country. The move aimed at allaying fears that their colour copiers could be easily used to counterfeit bills.
It is believed that since then, many other companies have adopted the practice. According to experts, several printer companies secretly encode the serial number and the manufacturing code of their colour laser printers and colour copiers on every document those machines produce.
Laser-printing technology makes it extremely easy to counterfeit money and documents, and the dots, according to supporters, in use in some printers for decades, allow law enforcement agencies to identify and track down counterfeiters.
However, the same dots could also be employed to track a document back to any person or business that printed it. Although the technology has been present for a long time, printer companies have not been required to notify customers of the feature.
If this practice disturbs you, don't bother trying to disable the encoding mechanism of your printer—you'll probably break it. The coding device is a chip located deep into the machine, near the laser. It embeds the dots when the document is about 20 billionths of a second from printing.
Although nobody has an estimate of how many laser printers, copiers, and multifunction devices track documents, experts believe that the practice is commonplace among major printer companies. The U.S. Secret Service would agree that it finds the printing industry quite helpful to law enforcement.
According to sources, counterfeiting cases are brought to the Secret Service, which checks the documents, determines the brand and serial number of the printer, and contacts the company. Some, like Xerox, have a customer database, which they share with the government.
Many people are apprehensive that the American government’s tracking initiative could lead to a serious breach of privacy. The government has already succeeded in persuading more colour laser printer manufacturers to encode each page with identifying information. Without your knowledge or permission, an act you assume is private could become public. A communication tool you use in everyday life could become a tool for government surveillance. And what's worse, there are no laws to prevent its abuse.
The Surprising Truth About Cold Calling
OLD SALES GURU MYTH # 1 "Cold Calling is a Numbers Game"
When all you know is the traditional way of cold calling, selling is indeed a numbers game. Yes, you can call people over and over. You can also chase them until they listen just so that you go away.
Have you ever wondered how someone came up with the "numbers game concept?" It was really about the rejection we constantly experience when making cold calls. The boss just said to call someone else, and so we did. The idea is that if we call a hundred people a day, then we should squeeze out at least a few good leads. However, there’s a better and easier way of getting your product or service message across -- all on one call.
If you simply change your cold calling approach, you'll make fewer calls and more sales. How? By engaging in conversations. Yes, that’s right. Just talk to people...in your normal tone of voice, and without the usual sales pitch approach. When we focus on relationship rather than salesmanship, we’re calling with the anticipation of meeting someone new. We’re looking forward to a pleasant conversation to find out whether we can be of service.
The other person subtly but powerfully feels this mindset. You’re no longer meeting with defense and resistance right from the start. That will dramatically change the way people respond to your cold calls.
OLD COLD CALLING GURU MYTH # 2 "Use a sales script"
People can tell when you're reading from a script, even if you think you're pretty good at it. There's just nothing personal about a sales script, and people pick up on that. Being artificial immediately tags you as a typical salesperson. Therefore, if you can learn to get your message across in a different way, then you'll eliminate the negative triggers that can lose your sale within seconds.
So once again, the best way is to begin with a conversation. Anticipate a dialogue, not a monologue. People will respond much more positively. When you allow a conversation be natural and to "breathe," they know you’re present and listening. T hat feels good to someone who is having to "fend off" salespeople who are really just talking billboards.
OLD COLD CALLING GURU MYTH # 3 "Focus on closing the sale"
Are you "going in for the kill" with your closing sale technique? If you are, you could end up killing your deal instead.
Old cold calling sales techniques do nothing more than pressure potential clients. They feel like they’re being chased. What do most people do when they feel chased? They run! They naturally want to retreat away from that pressure -- and that pressure is you.
So learn to avoid the "push-pull" dynamic between you and the potential client. You'll actually find the sales process moving forward much more naturally (and more often) than when you’re forcing things.
In this old myth, the idea is that if a sale is lost, it’s usually at the end of the sales process. The truth is that it’s often lost at the beginning of the cold call. When all you’re doing is going for a sale, the other person can sense it, no matter how well you think it’s camouflaged. When someone senses this sales pressure, "The Wall" goes up and the defenses come out. So stay away from focusing on making the sale. Rather, your goal is always to discover whether you and your potential clients are a good fit.
I can’t tell you how useful these new ideas have been in my own life, and in the lives of hundreds of others who have tried it. It’s not always easy to shed the old cold calling myths. Nevertheless, it’s worth it. With a little practice, you’ll come to a place of actually enjoying your cold calls and getting better results.