Ongoing Education For Insurance Ethics

Some states require ethics training as part of their insurance continuing education requirements.

The insurance industry faces many potential ethical dilemmas on a daily basis. Insurance is a promise of a large potential future payment in exchange for an immediate guaranteed smaller payment. Since insurance companies do not sell a tangible product but rather promises based on legal contracts, there is great potential for abuse through unethical decisions and business practices. Ethics training exists to minimize or prevent these situations.

History

As early as 1930, more than a decade before congressional legislation adopting insurance industry regulation, the National Association of Health Underwriters adopted a strict code of ethics that is still part of its organization as of June 2010. Over time, states introduced ethics regulations into various parts of the insurance industry, such as the unfair trade practices laws. Some states require ethics training as part of their pre-licensing requirements for producers. According to Insurance Continuing Education, 19 states include ethics as part of their continuing education requirements as well.

Insurance Institute for Applied Ethics

The Insurance Institute for Applied Ethics was founded in 1995 to bring awareness to the ever-growing need for ethics in the insurance industry. The institute, located in Pennsylvania, identifies and provides funding for ethics-related research projects, then publishes the findings for the industry. It sponsors various seminars and workshops designed for insurance professionals as well as the public to better educate everyone about ethics implications of insurance contracts.

State Regulation

Each state is primarily responsible for regulating the insurance laws within its borders. The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam also have departments or bureaus of insurance. Because of this state-level regulation, specific requirements for ethics training will vary by location. Check with your state's or territory's department of insurance to see what training requirements you must fulfill to maintain your license.

Providers

Each state regulates continuing education ethics requirements but does not typically provide the classes directly. Ethics courses are offered by private institutions, insurance companies or even organizations such as the Insurance Institute for Applied Ethics. As long as the provider you wish to use for your training is recognized by your state's department of insurance, you may fulfill your requirement wherever you wish.

California

California is a recent addition to the ever-growing list of states that requires ethics as part of insurance producers' continuing education training. As of Jan. 1, 2007, producers in the state must complete two or four hours of ethics training every two years, depending on the license. California previously required ethics pre-licensing training, but the pre-licensing training does not qualify for continuing education credit under state rules.

Look For A Niche Career

A niche career is one that sells a specific, well-defined product or service to a group of people who seek to buy that product or service. It can be sold online, from home or in the community (e.g., a retail store). You may also find a niche career working for someone else as a direct-hire employee.

Instructions

1. Brainstorm ideas. Write down things you love to do and enjoy in life, Write down your experiences, jobs, skills, interests and passions. Ask friends, family, neighbors, anyone who knows you what your niche might be.

2. Determine your niche and be precise. If you love to sell flowers, you may be more successful selling in the niche area of orchids or violets, or various cacti. The more specific you are, the better.

3. Get professional career advice. Seek out advice from school career counselors if you're in school. If you're an older adult, consider paying for a career coach to help you define the best niche career options for you.

4. You must be an expert or knowledgeable about your niche business. Narrow it down to just one area of business only. Then you can later expand deeper and a bit wider as the marketplace is determined by sales and customer demand.

5. Join industry organizations which will help you get experience in your niche career and talk to professionals who already may be working in your dream niche career job.

6. Target your audience. Find out if there is a market out there for you business, whether it is online, at home, or in the community. Do research by going online and checking an item's popularity with keyword tools.

7. Talk to professors at colleges and universities where cutting-edge instruction or research is going on in your niche career. This is especially important if your niche career is an emerging one.

8. Join industry organizations that will help you learn buy, sell and better understand your niche career's products or services. You will also want to join groups and go to events (e.g.., trade shows, craft shows) where you can meet your customers and wholesalers directly.

Be Eligible For A A Grant

There are many reasons a person might want to obtain a grant. Grants are ideal because they do not have to be paid back like loans do. In one sense they are like free money. Because wealthy individuals and companies are giving this money away for free, they expect you to meet a few qualifications. Meeting those qualifications will qualify you for the grant.

Instructions

1. Have a financial need. Several grants are based on a person's income or net worth. You must check with the company to find out what their income level is. If you make over that then you don't need to waste your time filling out all the forms, but if you make less than the required income level, you are a good candidate to get the grant. Financial type grants include: going to college, starting up a business, heating assistance, home repair programs, and more.

2. Are you a minority? There are numerous grants set up for minorities. Minorities include people of certain ethnic backgrounds. You must first check your ancestry to find out if you qualify. If you can prove you are of that minority than you can apply for the grant. Some grants for minorities include going to college and starting up a business.

3. Are you a woman? Sorry guys, but these grants are just for the ladies. These types of grants are created to encourage women to go back to school or to start up their own business. What qualifications do you need to meet? You have to be a woman. No unusual proof is necessary although they will probably need your social security number which would confirm your gender.

4. Are you an adult looking to return back to college? Many grants are available to individuals who are past college age that are looking to return. There may be an age requirement so you must first check that out before you apply.

5. Are you interested in a certain field of study? This basically pertains to college grants, but there are so many out there for students who are looking to study math, science, and business. If you are majoring in any of these see your guidance counselor to ask to apply for these types of grants. If your field of study is what the grant is seeking, than you qualify.

Come Up With A Viral Advertising Campaign

viral marketing campaign

Learn put together a viral marketing campaign.

Do you have a product to sell but you aren't sure market it?

Have you ever seen hugely successful marketing campaigns and wondered go about putting together a similar campaign for your product?

One of the most popular methods of marketing today is viral marketing.

What is a viral marketing campaign?

Viral marketing refers to a type of advertising that is spread from one consumer to another; similar to the way a physical virus or computer virus is spread.

A viral marketing campaign involves the use of an entertaining, often humorous ad that people will be compelled to share with their friends.

In today's online society, ads such as these can be rapidly spread via e-mail, YouTube or social networking sites.

Instructions

1. Choose Your Medium

The first thing to do is decide present the ad. Video clips have boundless potential for creativity and can be published online for free. A good camcorder and a little creativity is all you need. Your ad can also take a simpler form, like a cleverly retouched photo, a catchy slogan, or an informative article that details whatever problem your product will solve.

2. Get Creative

Whatever your advertisement is, it must be something that people will want to sothers. The key to a successful viral marketing campaign is that the ad doesn't throw the product in the viewer's face. Instead, it catches the eye by entertaining. The use of humor is an effective way of getting people to look at an advertisement. They won't mind that they're being marketed to because they're getting enjoyment out of the ad.

3. Get it Out There

Post the ad or a link to it on the social networking sites such as Facebook, and Myspace. If it's a video ad, upload it to YouTube and post the link. You can also circulate it via e-mail. People will forward emails if they are not spammed, and if they contain content that's interesting enough to share.

4. When creating a viral marketing campaign, the sky is the limit. With a little creativity and the use of today's Internet technology, you can easily circulate an ad that will reach millions.

While you're here be sure to take a look around for more tips on viral marketing.

Put My Newsletter On My Small Site

Did you know that you can put your ezine on your Web site? It's not that hard, but the format of your ezine determines how you put it on your Web site. There are three basic formats: text, PDF and HTML.

Instructions

Text Ezine

1. A text ezine is the easiest. Open your text editor and open the ezine issue file.

2. Add the code that formats your ezine page to be consistent with the rest of your Web pages. This includes such things as background color, graphics and a navigation bar.

3. With a text ezine you might have to reformat the text font, text size and text color to be more readable or more consistent with the rest of your Web pages. If so, make those modifications in your text editor and save as an HTML document.

PDF Ezine

4. You can insert a PDF document into any Web page. The first step is to create a gateway HTML page. This page explains what the PDF is. If you are planning to upload every issue of your ezine in PDF format, create a gateway page that serves as your ezine landing page and upload your PDF files to that page.

5. Using your FTP program, upload the PDF file to your server.

6. Link the gateway HTML page to your PDF file. Each issue of your ezine will be a separate link. If you want to use the PDF icon as the link to your ezine issues, you'll have to insert the image from your hard drive or another Web site and then make it a link.

HTML Ezine

7. You can create your ezine as an HTML Web page on your Web site and send it out to your subscribers as a link. Then, when they click on the link, they will land on your web site. Or you can create an HTML ezine using a publishing software like Microsoft Publisher or Dreamweaver.

8. If you create the HTML ezine as a Web page on your Web site, you create the ezine using your text editor and upload it as you would any Web page.

9. If you create the ezine as an HTML document using a publishing program, you should pull it into your text editor and edit the page prior to uploading it to your Web site. There may be proprietary code that convolutes the HTML and that will have to be filtered through and edited out.

Put My Dvd Collection Into Itunes

Store backups of your movies in iTunes, just in case the discs get damaged.

ITunes is a popular Apple music and video software product that allows a user to play digital files from his computer's hard drive. Turning physical DVDs into a digital format that can be played by iTunes is known as "ripping a DVD." Through this process, users can enjoy the convenience of viewing their films nearly anywhere. After ripping a DVD to a hard drive, the files must first be imported to the iTunes library before they can be accessed by the iTunes player.

Instructions

1. Download DVD-ripping software that will allow you to save your movie files in MPEG-4 format (see Resources). This is the only movie file type that iTunes supports. Excellent programs include HandBrake or DVDFab Decrypter.

2. Insert your DVD into your computer's DVD drive. Open your ripping software.

3. Select "Import," and double-click the DVD. The program will perform an initial scan of the DVD. A ripping screen will then appear. Select "MPEG-4" as your desired file under "Format." Select "Universal" under the "Presets" menu on the ripping screen if using the HandBrake program. Write the folder name under "Destination" where you would like your new movie file to be saved. Use the "Browse" button to select a destination from the navigation window that appears.

4. Click "Start" or "Go" to begin ripping your DVD to your computer's hard drive. Your MPEG-4 file will automatically be saved to the destination you indicated in step 3. Close your DVD-ripping program.

5. Open iTunes, and select the "Movies" option from the left-hand side panel. Open the window on your hard drive that contains your movie file. Select your movie file, and move it with your mouse into iTunes. ITunes will automatically import the file and add it to your iTunes library. Play your movie by double-clicking the file icon in the iTunes movie list.

Put Music On The Hold Type Of A Telephone

Put Music on a Hold Line of a Phone

Placing business callers on hold can be irritating for clients. To help alleviate the irritation and boredom of waiting, many offices play music to help entertain clients until they are able to speak with them. Purchasing a music-on-hold system from an electronics store or an online site is an prudent way to add music to your business' hold line. The process is both easy and economical with most systems costing around $50 to $75.

Instructions

1. Purchase a music-on-hold system online or at specialty electronics stores.

2. Plug the music-on-hold system directly into a telephone wall jack via the plug located on the back side of the system. This places the system on your phone line.

3. Choose an output music source that you want listeners to hear while they are on hold. This can be a CD player, MP3 player, or radio.

4. Plug the music source into the system via a 3.5mm jack opening which is located on the back of the system. Your musical output source must have a 3.5mm plug or the capability to install one to work with this system. Many MP3 players, radios, and CD players come equipped with a 3.5mm cord and plug.

5. Push the star key on your phone to place callers on hold and activate the music system. The music will continue playing to callers who have called your telephone number. It stops if you pick up the receiver or the caller hangs up.

Make Used Crankcase Oil Into Diesel Fuel

Engine Oil Filler Cap

Used motor oil from your car's crankcase can be a problem. When it is time to change the oil in your vehicle, many people struggle with the decision of dispose of the oil in a manner that is safe for the environment. For many people, the solution is to not dispose of the oil at all, but to make it into diesel fuel. This fuel can then be burned to heat your home during winter, or even used to power your car as long as you have a diesel engine. If you have old crankcase oil that you would like to convert to fuel, follow these simple steps to learn how.

Instructions

1. Obtain an HDPE barrel. These blue barrels are made of a highly durable plastic known as High Density PolyEthylene. Having a barrel made of this material will give you a container to make your fuel in without being worried about your crankcase oil leaking out. Try to acquire a HDPE barrel that is at least a 20-gallon size, and ideally with markings on the side to help you identify how many gallons of fluid are inside the barrel. You should also make certain that your barrel has a lid so that you can safely store your fuel.

2. Open the fill cap on the lid of your HDPE barrel. Fit the cap with a piece of PVC pipe that is the right diameter to fit tightly into the fill hole. The PVC pipe should be long enough to hold a 10-micron filter, with enough length left over to support a large funnel. Having 12 to 18 inches of pipe is generally more than adequate for this purpose.

3. Place a 10-micron filter into the PVC pipe. Push the filter close to the bottom of the pipe so that it is the last thing your used crankcase oil will encounter before pouring into the barrel. The filter will remove any sediment and debris from the oil so that you will have a clean product to work with.

4. Insert a large funnel into the top of the PVC pipe and begin to pour the used crankcase oil into it. The oil will pour through the funnel and travel to the 10-micron filter, where it will slowly soak through and drip into the HDPE barrel. This process may be slow, so do not pour too much oil at once. Go slow and easy, allowing plenty of time for the used oil to be filtered.

5. Measure the amount of used crankcase oil that is in the barrel, and add an equal amount of fresh diesel fuel. It is helpful if you have been able to acquire an HDPE barrel with markings on the side to identify how many gallons of oil are in the barrel. Otherwise, you can use a tape measure to determine how deep the oil is, then pour in fresh diesel fuel until it is twice as deep. You should have a 50:50 ratio of new diesel and used oil. Some people like to add more fresh diesel so that they have a 60:40 mixture.

6. Mix the used crank case oil and diesel fuel until all ingredients are thoroughly blended. The easiest way to do this is to use a boat oar or paddle to stir the contents of the barrel. Mix the fluids for 20 to 30 minutes. At this point the oil and fuel will be blended together into a single liquid. You now have a barrel of diesel fuel that can be burned for heat or to power a diesel automobile engine.

Put Humor In Menopause

One has to wonder why menopause hasn't fallen under the term temporary insanity. When menopause rolls around, women walk that fine line of insanity. Actually, there is no line; we are totally insane. Your family will be certain you have lost your mind and you will be sure to tell them to kiss off! Still, there are some things we can do to maintain at least a somewhat unsteady grip on our sense of humor, while everything else goes to hell! We can get a few laughs along the way.

Instructions

1. When the kids ask why you're laughing and crying at the same time, tell them you're on your period, they'll leave you alone.

2. Remember everything isn't a crisis. It just seems like it is; so go ahead and scream.

3. The family has stepped on your last nerve, you're trying to do ten things at once, the television is too loud and you're about to explode. While drying a knife, stand in the middle of the room, tilt your head to one side and once certain you have the family's attention, smile, nod and walk away. It will scare them into silence.

4. Lack of focus is one of the many symptoms of menopause; but being scatter-brained can be entertaining. When the family laughs at your inability to maintain a focal point, laugh along with them. It will lighten your mood and help you see the silliness of it.

5. Lost the grocery list again? Improvise and create something outrageous. And get used to it because you'll find yourself doing it often. The kids won't complain after the first major explosion.

6. Psychological stress is just part of this mental meltdown. Remember to breathe, then laugh, shake your head and get back in there!

7. Instead of emotional tantrums break into a dance.

8. When you're having a very unbalanced day and there's too much to do, take one errand at a time. If the family is making it harder, tell them in a raging scream that you're losing your mind, then go hide while you listen to them running away.

9. While sobbing uncontrollably and simultaneously feeling the urge to rip someone's eyes out, destroy something that can be replaced and watch the reactions of your family.

10. Celebrate at least once a month. After all, you haven't killed any of them yet.

Place A Weather Alert On The Phone

Be prepared for hazardous weather.

Smartphones offer the convenience of banking, emailing, texting and social networking all from your handheld device. These ever-evolving phones keep the world in the loop on breaking news, sports scores and weather alerts. Weather alerts can be one of the most time-sensitive updates a person can receive. Adding this option to your phone will keep you up to speed on any hazardous conditions coming your way.

Instructions

1. Log on the The Weather Channel's website. Locate and highlight "Severe Weather" at the top of the page. Click on the "Alerts" option. You will be prompted by an image of a cell phone and a list of available alert options. Click "Sign Up."

2. Highlight the boxes containing the alerts you wish to receive. Options include: Severe weather, pollen counts, current conditions, daily forecasts and rain alerts. Click "Severe Weather" and enter the ZIP code for which you wish to receive notifications.

3. Enter your email address and a password that will be used only for the Weather Channel's site. You can opt out of receiving emails on the following page, but the information is required initially. Enter your cellphone number where indicated and click "Continue."

4. Check for a text message asking you to confirm your enrollment in the weather alert program. Respond per the instructions provided. You will receive a final text stating that you are enrolled in the weather alert program.

Purchase Tax Liens Online

Investors can own a home simply by investing in tax liens.

Tax liens can be a lucrative way of making a lot of money and diversify your investment portfolio. When a homeowner defaults on taxes owed to the state or federal government a lien is placed on their home. You are able to purchase that lien and a customer has to pay you the money you invested, plus a percentage called a penalty, which varies based on the state the lien was purchased. If the customer does not repay the lien within a certain amount of time, you can own their home.

Instructions

1. Speak with your financial planner or look at your budget to determine how much money you have available to invest in tax lien certificates. Tax liens are attractive to people regardless of their income level as you can find inexpensive tax liens in different states. Tax liens can increase in value if the county that is selling them offers an auction style format for purchasing tax liens. Make sure you have enough money to invest in tax liens, as well as to bid with other investors competitively.

2. Invest in a state and counties that offer the highest penalty percentage, as well as states that offers tax lien auctions more frequently. For example, Georgia offers a interest rate penalty of 20 percent. Georgia also offers monthly tax lien auctions on the first Tuesday of any month.

3. Locate a county that allows you to purchase tax liens online. Use websites that tell you the state, how often tax lien sales are held as well as a list of all the counties within that state (see resources). Contact the treasurer or tax assessor of each county you are interested in to determine if they offer tax lien sells online or visit the National Association of Counties (see resources) to obtain information on specific counties.

4. Download the lists of any available tax lanes that are up for sale from the county's website or by getting instructions from the county tax assessor's office. The list will provide the address of the property, as well as the cost of the tax deed or the minimum amount at which the bidding will start.

5. Use websites like Trulia and MLS.com to research the properties you are interested in bidding on. Unfortunately, you do not have the advantage of physically visiting the property. Using a MLS website allows you to see how much the houses were and possibly determine if there is any damage or other issues about the house that will make it a good or bad investment.

6. Pay any deposits necessary to join any auctions for online tax liens. To ensure the investor is serious, a deposit is charged for those that will join an auction online. Deposits vary from state to state, and if you do not bid or purchase any tax liens the money is refunded to your account.

Purchase Gold & Silver Coins

Purchasing gold and silver coins is easy with a little information.

There are many reasons to buy gold and silver coins, including collecting and investing. Regardless of the reason, buyers need to understand some basic information about gold and silver coins.

Numismatic and Bullion Coins

Gold and silver coins can be divided into two types: numismatic coins and bullion coins. Numismatic coins are valued for their rarity by coin collectors, while bullion coins are valued upon the coin's precious metal content. Numismatic coin values are greatly impacted by the coin's condition.

Determining Fair Value

Coin buyers need to determine a fair value for the coins they are considering purchasing to ensure they receive a fair price. Values of coins can be determined by comparing prices offered by different sellers, using coin value guides (in the case of numismatic coins) or by using spot gold and silver prices.

Finding a Reputable Dealer

After determining which gold or silver coin to buy and the fair value, a buyer needs to choose a coin dealer. Buying coins in person is generally safer but it isn't always possible. Before buying coins online or via phone, a buyer should research the company to ensure its coins are legitimate.

Purchase Stock Around The Pink Sheets Exchange

The Pink Sheets Exchange lists stocks that don't qualify for traditional exchanges.

The Pink Sheets Exchange is an over-the-counter securities exchange that lists securities that are not qualified to be listed on a traditional exchange, such as stocks of very small companies or securities with low trade volume. Pink quotation system is run by Pink OTC Markets Inc., a private company that is not a broker-dealer and is not registered with Securities and Exchange Commission. The Pink Sheets Exchange lists quotes published by "market makers" and broker-dealers.

Instructions

1. Research the stocks you plan on buying. Because these stocks are so closely held, many of them are not listed on any other exchange and are not traded very often. So they are much riskier than stocks listed with New York Stock Exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. If the company issues an annual report, try to find it on the company's website, or request one from the company.

Check company reputation on the Pink OTC Markets website (see Resources section). The Pink Sheets market is broken into tiers: current information, limited information, no information, gray market and caveat emptor. The current information tier lists securities with sufficient level of disclosure, and the caveat emptor tier lists those that might belong to fraudulent companies. You can also contact your state's securities regulator to request some information about the company and its owners or check out the Securities and Exchange Commission's Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval database.

2. Talk to your financial adviser. You will need the services of a Series 7 and Series 66 licensed professional. Request some information about the issuer of the stock you plan to purchase. Under the Securities Act of 1934, certain broker-dealers are required to furnish investors some information about the issuer. If you don't already have a brokerage account, you'll need to open one before you can buy stocks traded on the Pink Sheets Exchange.

3. Buy stocks. Review the "ask" prices for your desired security with your financial adviser and have her enter your order. The markets for Pink Sheets are open until 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time; be sure to make decisions and notify your financial professional on time. Confirm the order and call your adviser in a week or so to verify that the order has been settled.

Admit Mistakes

Blind devotion to flawed strategies is far worse than admitting a mistake. Business executives do not admit mistakes because of the potential legal and financial consequences. Political leaders do not admit mistakes because they fear looking weak and indecisive. Partners do not admit mistakes because they want to maintain the upper hand in a relationship. However, insisting on something in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary could make you look delusional and arrogant. To avoid losing credibility, admit your mistake, take corrective action and move forward.

Instructions

1. Understand the nature of the mistake. You could gain perspective in family conflicts if you allow passions to cool. If something has gone wrong at work, assess your role in it.

2. Admit the mistake to yourself first. If you are at fault, even partially, accept it. Write down what you might have done wrong and what steps you could take to fix it. Admitting a mistake does not represent a character flaw. You should be more interested in continually improving rather than in being right all the time.

3. Analyze the environment. Accepting blame could help your career. However, you should read the people around you to assess if management encourages truth telling and admissions of fault. Senior leadership usually sets the tone by taking full responsibility for the company's strategic decisions. If management is always eager to blame others when things go wrong, the work environment might be hostile to people who openly admit mistakes.

4. Set aside private space and time to admit the mistake. In personal cases, take the initiative and explain your role in the conflict. Admit your mistake and apologize sincerely. At work, meet with your boss privately and explain the nature of the mistake. This is the responsible thing to do because undetected or unresolved safety or quality issues could cause serious harm to the company. If you work in an open and supportive environment, your managers will appreciate the gesture and thank you for it.

5. Propose solutions to correct your mistake and to minimize the chances of recurrence in the future. This adds substance to an apology and shows that you are taking the matter seriously. In family disputes, one solution might be to express openly when something is bothering you and not keep things bottled up. At work, you could propose cost-effective solutions for fixing the error. Eve Tahmincioglu of the MSN Careers website cites a case in which an employee had introduced a serious typo in the price of a product. The employee proposed several alternatives and offered to pay for the mistake.

Buy A Home Within The Hud Good Neighbor Nearby Program

Good Neighbor Next Door HUD homes are located in every state.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Good Neighbor Next Door program allows firefighters, law enforcement officers, teachers and emergency medical technicians to purchase HUD-owned homes at a 50 percent discount off the list price. Qualified purchasers are required to live in the home as their sole residence for 36 months after the date of purchase. Homes eligible for this program are located in communities targeted by HUD officials for revitalization.

Instructions

1. Visit a bank or mortgage company to apply for a Veteran's Administration, Federal Housing Administration or conventional mortgage loan. Bring your driver's license, Social Security card and pay stubs that reflect at least one month of earnings. This information is used during the mortgage loan application process to determine your eligibility for a mortgage loan.

2. Complete the loan application and any additional forms required by the bank or mortgage company. The completed forms and copies of your personal documents will be forwarded to a loan underwriter for approval. The underwriter will determine the maximum loan amount for which you qualify. It is not necessary to mention the Good Neighbor Next Door Program to the bank or mortgage company.

3. Visit HUD's "Neighbor Next Door" property search page and search for listings in your area. Each listing has an "Agent Info" tab that lists the name and contact information for the listing agent. Contact the listing agent to arrange a showing of the home. Advise the agent that you meet the criteria for the Good Neighbor Next Door program.

4. Select a home to purchase and advise the real estate agent that you would like to submit an offer. The agent will prepare an offer document to submit to HUD for a Good Neighbor Next Door purchase. This document includes the offer amount and declares your intention to purchase the home. You are required to sign this document.

5. Follow up with the real estate agent regarding the status of your offer. Once your offer is accepted, a date is scheduled for a meeting known as a closing to complete the paperwork. Closings are usually held at the office of the attorney who prepared the paperwork before the meeting.

6. Attend the closing and review the closing documents, which include the amount of your mortgage payments, your interest rate, your closing costs and other details regarding the home and the HUD loan. Ask questions about any information that is not clear. Sign and initial the documents in the designated areas.

7. Complete the paperwork for a second mortgage known as a silent second mortgage. This mortgage covers the discounted amount of 50 percent of the purchase price. After meeting all occupancy guidelines for 36 months, the silent second mortgage is forgiven by HUD.

Needs For Iso Certification

ISO (International Standard Organization) consists of a family of rigorous international benchmarks and requirements that are designed to help a company to control and improve its quality. Although many businesses aim to be ISO 9001-certified, there are other ISO standards that have requirements that target specific industries, such as the automotive or petroleum sectors. Some standards require that companies develop a QMS (Quality Management System). Below are some ISO standards and their requirements.

ISO 9001

In order to be ISO 9001-certified, a company must produce a QMS (Quality Management System). A QMS is a series of processes, procedures, and policies that the company must have in order to set up and carry out its core business activities. In addition, the company must have solid documentation that identifies all of its processes. These processes will come from each department of the company. The documentation must show how these departments interrelate with other. Flow charts or diagrams will help the auditor to visually see how these departments work together. The management must have regular meetings to go over the QMS. This will help the company to prepare for the audit, which a third party will conduct. The auditor interviews the company's employees, ensuring that they know what their roles are in complying with these standards. The auditor also analyzes the company's documentation, confirming that it adheres to the requirements. If there are areas where the company does not comply, the auditor will note them in a report. The company has a limited time to fix these errors. After the company has corrected these errors, the auditor will re-checks them. If all the errors have been corrected, the auditor will then certify the company.

ISO 14000

ISO 14000 focuses on the EMS (Environmental Management Systems), which is a management tool. ISO 14000 consists of two sub-standards: ISO 14004:2004 and ISO 14001:2004. ISO 14004:2004 provides a general framework of the EMS, including implementing, maintaining, and improving it. The ISO 14001:2004 provides the requirements of the EMS. It explains how the company should create and implement policies regarding the system. The company should create an EMS that will help it to define and monitor the environmental impact of its services, products, or activities. It should also enable the organization to continuously improve its environmental performance. Finally, the EMS should help the company to employ a methodical approach in order to establish environmental objectives. After the company has met and implemented these requirements, a third party organization will audit it. The auditor will provide the company a detailed report of the requirements that have not been met. The company has a limited time to repair these problems before it can be certified.

ISO/TS 16949

ISO/TS 16949 identifies the QMS's requirements for designing, developing, and producing automotive-related products. This also includes installing and servicing these products. Based on ISO 9001, the company's QMS must supply continuous improvement. ISO/TS 16949 applies to all of the company's sites that are involved in manufacturing automotive parts for customers. These sites include the company's headquarters and design and distributions centers. Although the auditor will audit each site, none will not receive a stand-alone ISO/TS 16949 certification. Instead, the whole company will be ISO/TS 16949-certified if it passes the exam.

ISO/TS 29001

ISO/TS 29001 identifies the QMS's requirements for designing, developing, producing, installing, and servicing products for petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas sectors. The company's QMS must prevent defects and cut down on waste from service providers. After the company has implemented the QMS, a third party auditor will review it. The assessor will look for requirements that the company has not met. The company has a limited time to correct these problems. The auditor will issue the company an ISO/TS 29001 certificate after the problems have been fixed.

Publish Your first Book

Publishing your first book doesn't have to be difficult.

More than one method will help you get your first book published. The process depends on whether you want to see your name on hardback copies lining the walls of a bookstore or simply hope to get the book in the hands of readers as soon as possible. The tools to accomplish the task are probably right at your fingertips. Follow basic steps to take whichever path you want to publication.

Instructions

1. Peruse the Writer's Market via its annual bound guide or on the Web at WritersMarket.com. Full use of the site requires paying a membership fee. This publishing guide is divided into nonfiction and fiction subjects. Publishers are listed for each genre and type of writing. The website is especially useful, because it is equipped with a search tool that allows you to filter the list of possible publishers. For example, you may want to view only those publishers that have websites or only those that pay in advance.

2. Choose a publisher. You should make this choice based on more than just your book's topic and the convenience of the publisher's requirements. Again, Writer's Market is helpful here, because it provides up-to-date information on the writing market and also offers an FAQ page regarding publishers and a place to ask for expert advice. Writer's Market provides the specifics regarding contact each publisher and submit your manuscript. The website does not offer an upload option -- you must contact each publisher directly.

3. Print your book yourself if you can't find the right publisher or are in a hurry to make your book available for purchase. Print-on-demand companies will publish your book for a fee in exchange for formatting services and art work. They sell the book on their own websites as well as on linked affiliate Web pages and in bookstores.

4. Publish your book as an e-book rather than the traditional print book. A number of formats are available, and e-book readers have made it possible to format your book, upload it to a website and sell it directly to readers. You may even be able to set the price of the book and how much you will receive in royalties.

Publish Gospel Song Lyrics

Publish Gospel Song Lyrics

Publishing gospel music lyrics is a unique industry. Even though gospel music has come a long way since the 60's and 70's, don't try to publish gospel lyrics with a publisher who specializes in rock-n-roll and rap music. Most publishers are specialized and so are their connections. Having a specialized publisher will open more doors for you, because they have done all the legwork for you.

Instructions

1. Self-publishing your song lyrics will give you more license for input. You have more control over what happens with your songs and how they are published. The drawback is that you have to self-promote your work. Another form of self-publishing would be to post your songs and/or lyrics on a website. Potential buyers can download your material for a set fee (see Resources below).

2. Create a demo. A demo can mean anything from a micro-cassette type recording of someone singing a melody to a fully produced master, complete with strings, brass, background vocals, etc. Should you make a recording of your song? Absolutely! Does it need to be an expensive recording? Absolutely not! Song demos (as opposed to artist demos) should be simple, inexpensive recordings. They are intended to showcase the song, not a producer or a percussionist or a vocalist. If you need to just archive your songs, a cassette work tape is sufficient. If you’re planning to pitch your songs, a clean, professional-sounding guitar vocal recording or a piano-vocal recording is very effective. Allowing them to hear what your music sounds like, will give your lyrics more credibility and opportunity to get your work published.

3. Find an established publisher who is interested in publishing your work in print. You may find many of these resources on the Internet (see Resources below). Contact other published gospel songwriters and gets tips from them on what publishing companies are open to new songwriters. They may be able to help you get in contact with established published writers and give you tips to getting your lyrics in front of the right people. Ask your local church music department about leads. Surprisingly, many of the singers leading worship in churches are aspiring gospel songwriters and some have made connections. They can lead you in the right direction.

4. Though long term, a more proven method is to build a network. Begin right in the area where you live. Start by networking with all of the people in your vicinity, who are in some way involved in gospel music. Perhaps you can get to know music buyers at various Christian bookstores where you buy music CD’s. Speak with local programmers at your favorite gospel and/or Christian radio station to which you listen. Many times they can help you get in contact with gospel music publishers. Consider all of the people these individuals know and who they know. In time, you can create quite a network. In the interim, keep perfecting your craft. Find every opportunity you can to write gospel songs and to share the good ones with your network. Experience says that the good songs and songwriters find their way through that kind of network and eventually will get the attention of the right publisher. When you think about it, what gospel radio station personnel wouldn’t want to boast of having been the guy or gal, who passed along a tape of a writer whose song is currently in the top ten? Consider how much more effective your query letter to publishers will be if it includes or comes upon the recommendation of “so and so” from the sales and distribution side of the company who knows the music buyer at the store where you shop. Networking is very most important!

5. Attending gospel songwriting workshops and music conferences is another way to build your network. Not only do you learn more about the craft of songwriting and performing, but most likely you will meet others who are networking as well. Who knows what new contact might open that last door you’re looking to enter. (See resource below)

6. Obtain strong financial backing in order to have a successful record. At first you may need to fork over your own money to get your songs into print. If you don't have a savings, seek out investors like family members or trusted friends. It may be necessary to take out a loan from a bank. You may be fortunate to find a publishing company that will let you pay in installments. So do not lose heart. As the quality of your work increases over time, you eventually won't have any trouble finding financial backers.

7. The best resource for finding print publishers is through the Writer's Market. It's also a great source to find a publishing printing agent or manager to promote your work. There are hard copies available in most bookstores, and they have a website available online for a small fee (see Resources below). Don't be discouraged by rejection. Some major publishing companies rejected the greatest songwriters of our day before their work becomes popular. One opportunity is all it takes for you to see your dreams come to pass.

8. Get your gospel song lyrics copyrighted. Today, music publishers are concerned with administering copyrights, licensing songs to record companies and others and collecting royalties on behalf of the songwriter. Publishers may also authorize translations in order to generate income from cover versions of a particular song in foreign countries.

Mapping & Routing Software

Make your own maps with mapping software.

The world is rapidly becoming navigable. GPS software and GPS units make getting most places relatively easy, but there are still unmapped areas, or those not mapped for what you might need. The solution: make your own maps of your area with specialized computer software.

Map Maker

Map Maker Gratis is easy to use for a beginner without GIS (Geographical Information Systems) knowledge. Use the free Map Maker Gratis to draw, edit and print basic maps. If the free program isn't complex enough for your tastes, upgrading to the Pro version of the software is quick, requiring you enter a product key to unlock the full version. The Pro version costs $350, as of October 2010.

iMap Builder

If your goal is to share the knowledge contained in your map online, consider a program such as iMap Builder. This program has flash templates that can be imported into your website's design, with country map templates included -- or you can start from scratch and build your own interactive maps from the ground up.

Other Programs

For those with a bit of GIS knowledge, Mapcruzin provides a list of free, downloadable software for creating maps. Its nine pages of links includes brief descriptions of each program.

Tax Strategies For An Unincorporated Business In Canada

A few simple steps can make your tax calculations easier.

If you run an unincorporated business in Canada---either a sole proprietorship or a partnership---just a few tax tips can save you money, time and frustration. Tips useful for all businesses include keeping good records, investigating what tax deductions and credits you may be eligible for, and obtaining tax information efficiently.

Separate Records for Each Type of Business

Separate records are required to be kept for each type of business that a self-employed person maintains. A "Statement of Business or Professional Activities" must be prepared for each type of business. For example, an unincorporated marketing specialist should keep separate records for providing online marketing services and for organizing in-person events.

Simple Record Organization System

Dropping off several shopping bags full of receipts, invoices and bank statements to your tax specialist during tax season will cost you money for preparation of your return. It also will likely cause you to miss out on important tax credits and deductions. A system as simple as putting each week of receipts, invoices and other records in a separate, labeled envelope and dedicating an hour a week to entering this information in a record book will greatly reduce the time your tax specialist spends preparing the tax return for your unincorporated business---and the fee you are charged.

Computerized Accounting

Keeping electronic records using either a simple spreadsheetor business accounting software---such as Quicken or Quickbooks---has several advantages for unincorporated businesses in Canada. Electronic record-keeping streamlines tax-return preparation. It lets you create reports that can help you calculate GST/HST remittances, tax credits, tax deductions, and the often-confusing "capital cost depreciation." You should consult your tax specialist on the legal requirements when keeping electronic records.

Business Use of Home Tax Deduction

You can claim as a business tax deduction a percentage of your rent, mortgage, household maintenance, property taxes and utilities if you use part of your home for business. The space must be used to earn income and must be regularly used as the main place of business. For example, a freelance photographer could deduct expenses for office space even if he or she takes photographs outside the home---as long as the darkroom, business accounts and digital image processing are located or conducted in the home. (See References 4)

Revenue Canada Online

All business-owners in Canada can access their Revenue Canada account online. The "My Business Account" service provides access to GST/HST, income tax, excise taxes, payroll and a software application to prepare T4 slips. You must register at the Canada Revenue Website---on the "My Business Account" page---for an ePass to access the My Business Account services. (See References 5)

Revenue Canada Business Centre's Services

Call the Revenue Canada Business Centre (800-959-5525) when you have questions about your taxes or business record-keeping. They can provide you with almost instant access to information and guidance on all tax tips and information for unincorporated businesses in Canada, including GST/HST and ordering forms.

Create A Business Telephone Number

Publish your business phone number in several locations.

Marketing your new business to target consumers is a process that requires creative ways to get the word out about your product or service. Flyers, websites, catalog entries, press releases and other such ways to tell the world you are open for business are just a small part of your overall marketing strategy. E-mail addresses and websites are important in marketing your business today, but a telephone number provides your customers and clients with a direct way to reach you. When all else fails, people reach for the phone to find out the information they want to know. Publish your phone number in several places to increase your company's exposure to future customers.

Instructions

1. Call your local phone book company to enter your company in its listings. Phone books are usually only published twice per year, so make sure you get your company's ad and phone number listed before your opening date if possible. Put your number in the white pages as well so that people who only remember the name of your company can quickly find your number instead of having to search through several yellow pages categories to find your advertisement. Make sure you get your phone number listed in the phone book's online version as well.

2. Submit your phone number to search engines and online phone books. Some listings may result in your information being spread to several different sites. Other times, you may have to contact individual sites to get your business phone number listed on the sites and in searches people conduct on them.

3. List your phone number on your company's Web site. Include it on your contact page in a prominent location so that it is easy to locate. Put your number at the bottom, top, or sides of each company Web page for quick reference. Also include it on any social networking sites your business is on, such as Twitter and Facebook.

4. Print your company's phone number on your business cards, in addition to your other contact information such as e-mail address, website and address. Fliers, newspaper articles or classified advertisements are other good places to put your business' phone number. Put out a press release in your community's newspaper announcing the opening of your business or new information regarding your company; include your phone number on the release.

Publicize Your Website

Get the word out! Help people from all over the world find your Web site.

Instructions

1. Register your site with your favorite Internet search engines. Most search-engine sites have links (toward the bottom of the engine's home page) that say 'Add a site' or 'Add URL.' Click on these links and follow the sites' instructions.

2. Visit Web sites such as Submit It (www.submit-it.com), which help you submit your URL to multiple search engines simultaneously.

3. Visit sites that are related to or similar to your own, or maintained by your friends, and suggest linking to each other's pages.

4. Join a Web ring, a group of Web sites on a particular topic that link to each other in a chain. Or start your own Web ring. Visit the WebRing site (www.webring.org) for information.

5. Pay to place banner ads on well-trafficked Web sites; contact individual sites for their rates. Or join a free banner exchange, such as LinkExchange (www.linkexchange.com).

Publicize A Brand New Business

You've fulfilled the dream of starting a new business. Now, it's time to make sure that everyone knows about it. If you publicize your new business effectively, you'll attract plenty of customers. The following steps can help you get the word out quickly and successfully.

Instructions

1. Print business cards. There are many affordable options for printing professional-looking cards. Find a printing company within your budget, and design a card that includes all of the important information about your business. Keep several cards in your wallet at all times, because you never know when you'll meet a potential business contact.

2. Design a website. These days, people expect businesses to have websites, and potential clients will want to see yours. If you're skilled with web-design software, you can do this yourself. If not, you can seek bids from professional designers. Your site doesn't need to be fancy; it just needs to be easy to read and informative.

3. Network with friends, family and other social or business contacts. The people who already know and support you can be great at getting the word out about your new business. Make sure that these people know the address of your website, so that they can pass it along to anyone who might be interested in your business.

4. Join an organization for professionals in your field. Knowing lots of people in your line of work can be great for your business. If someone in your field is too busy to accept a new client, they might suggest that the client contact you instead. Plus, professional organizations often have websites or newsletters where you can publicize your new business.

5. Attend social networking events. Many cities have groups that host happy hours for everyone from small-business owners to young professionals to telecommuters. Find an event that suits your purposes, and talk to as many people as you can. Remember to bring plenty of business cards, because you'll have the opportunity to exchange them with others.

Publicize Your Blog

While blogging starts with the writing, every blogger really has two primary goals: creating great content and driving traffic to her site. Using free and low-cost methods such as local newspapers, Craigslist, and social networking websites, you can increase your readership, community participation in your project and advertising revenues. Getting your blog in front of the public eye and keeping it there is the key to success in blogging.

Instructions

1. Pick a catchy name for the blog. While not technically part of publicizing your blog, this will make it easy for remember your blog. Try to pick a name that's short and that relates directly to the subject of your blog.

2. Harness the power of social networking websites. For instance, Facebook allows you to write notes, post links and create a fan page, as well as list your blog in your "websites." MySpace allows you to post bulletins and write in your blog. You can also create a MySpace (or other social networking site) page for your new blog. Use the utilities of sites you already belong to to alert your friends of your new project.

3. Post an ad on Craigslist.com in the appropriate category. This is another free way to get public exposure for your blog, especially if you live in a large metropolitan area.

4. Identify your target audience and seek them out. Consider taking out ads in a related print publication (such as a trade magazine) or buying advertising on Facebook, MySpace or other sites. Also consider any listservs you might belong to or administrate. If your blog would be of interest to those readers, pass the link along to the administrator or spread the word yourself.

5. Take out an ad in a local newspaper or other publication, especially if your blog is of local interest. Many local publications are free or low-cost and are widely distributed.

6. Hand out half-sheet fliers at a busy street-corner with a link to your site and a brief description or post fliers around your city.

7. Consider working with others. The more people that are invested in the success of the project, the more people are going to find out. Imagine how many people you could tell about your new project with just one or two co-authors following these steps.

Obtain A Reaction To Instructions

There's nothing more satisfying than writing a letter that receives a response. The response tells you your effort in writing and mailing the letter was appreciated. There are ways of writing letters that increase the likelihood of you receiving that response.

Instructions

1. Ask for action. When writing a letter to a manufacturer to complain about a product, end your letter by telling them what you want them to do for you. Your request for action should include a response to your letter. "Please acknowledge this correspondence by sending me a new product" is one way to handle it.

2. Question your reader. Young people get excited when they receive mail. Writing letters to a niece or nephew you don't see often is one way to keep in touch. The exchange can be even more pleasant when they write back to you. Encourage a response to your letter by asking questions. Your questions give the other person something to write about, and she will be more inclined to answer your letter.

3. Clearly state your urgency. Make it important that you receive a response to your letter. Come right out and say that you need a response by a certain date. Explaining why a timely response is important also improves your chances of getting one.

4. Be outlandish. Include a statement in your letter that the reader can't help responding to. When writing a letter to a local politician criticizing his views on an issue, overstate one of the facts. He will hurry to set the record straight and thus respond to your letter.

Prune Raspberry Plants For That Winter

Raspberries fruit in the summer.

Raspberry plants fruit on new cane growth, so pruning for the winter will involve removing the old fruiting canes. Gardeners must also control late crops or foliage blooms and control the size of the new canes so they do not become damaged during the winter months. During the later winter months, gardeners can prune the canes back to control height and make for easy fruit picking in the summer.

Instructions

1. Wait for the raspberry plant to finish producing its summer crop. Note which canes produced fruit this summer and which did not. Use garden shears to cut the canes that fruited down to the ground level. This encourages the plant to focus on growing fruit on the new canes.

2. Monitor the plant for any late fall fruiting. Remove the fruit as it comes in. It is susceptible to mold damage and may harm the plant over the winter.

3. Remove any foliage from the tips of the canes that does not fall on its own in the late fall.

4. Monitor the canes that did not fruit for any bending or signs that they are top-heavy. Use garden shears to cut these canes back so they do not bend. High winter winds can cause bending canes to snap, preventing fruit production.

5. Cut all the canes back to 5 feet or under in the late winter. Remove any damaged or thin canes.

Fast-dating Occasions In Atlanta

The quest for love has given rise to speed dating, which is popular in urban areas.

Speed dating has become an option for Atlanta residents who want to maximize their chances at finding romance by meeting several potential dates in the same evening. Speed daters at events in Atlanta and other cities typically spend about 10 minutes getting to know each other, then move on to another speed dater. If you're interested in one of the people you meet, you tell the event organizers. If there is a mutual interest from the person you identify, the organizers provide contact information.

Speed Date Atlanta Events

Speed Date Atlanta, part of a group that holds events in other U.S. cities, offers events geared to people of different age groups, ethnicities and sexual orientations. For instance, there are speed dating events for people age 21 to 30, and for Latinos who want to meet potential dates who share their ethnicity. The events are held at popular city bars and restaurants.

SpeedDateUSA

105-A Second St.

Philadelphia, PA 19103

877-215-7464

speeddateatlanta.com

HurryDate Events

HurryDate offers events in Atlanta for people who want to meet others of the same age group. One event brings together men and women from ages 40 to 55. Participants spend 10 to 15 minutes with each other. The event organizer guarantees at least eight contacts per event. If you don't, you get free admission to another HurryDate event.

Spark Networks

8383 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800

Beverly Hills, CA 90211

323-658-3000

hurrydate.com

Match In Six

This organizer hosts speed dating events at popular Atlanta bars and nightclubs. An event in April 2010 was aimed at bringing together Atlanta's "elite singles" at the Sambuca Jazz Lounge downtown. Attendees had the opportunity to meet about a dozen people at the event. Match in Six says its events promote quality over quantity and that most of its events are by "special invitation" or advertised by word of mouth.

Match In Six

No. 35 2900 Delk Road, Suite 700

Marietta, GA 30067

404-507-6338

matchinsix.community.officelive

Turn A Concept Into An Invention

Ideas are the birthplace of inventions so protect your ideas with a patent.

Ideas are the birth place of inventions and it can be tempting when you feel like you have a brilliant idea to tell everyone about it. Entrepreneur.com recommends that the first thing you need to do if you have a fantastic idea that you wish to turn into an invention is protect it. You should understand copyright and intellectual property laws before you go ahead and attempt to turn your idea into an invention. Once the idea is protected, there are a few steps you can take before taking the invention to the market place.

Instructions

Protect Your Ideas

1. Purchase an inventor's journal. An inventor's journal is a notebook with consecutively numbered pages. You must not be able to remove or re-insert the pages. You should get your inventor's note book dated and signed by a witness. The inventor's journal will become indispensable during the patent process.You can buy one at your local book store or, if you prefer to buy online, try Nolo or Book Factory.

2. Document your idea in your inventor's journal. Write down everything about the invention, including what it is, how it will be made, how it will be used, any ideas you have for taking it to the market place, manufacture it, and who you will sell it to.

3. Search the patents registered on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website to see if someone has already patented your idea. This search can be done for free. If there is a patent on file, you can not patent the idea. Also do a search for non-patent "prior art search." If you come up with any drawings or diagrams of your idea, even though this is not technically a registered patent, you can not patent your idea as it is already in the system.

4. Make lots of sketches of your prototype in your inventor's journal before attempting to make it. Create a few 3D mock ups out of cheap materials before attempting to use your final materials. If your invention is an idea for a drug, a chemical, or a large building, consider using 3D animation/imaging software to create an image of your prototype.

5. Make a prototype and iron out any flaws, kinks or mistakes before you patent it. This is because once the patent has been registered, you can not make any additions or changes to the design. If you register it before you think it is ready and you have to change it after registration, you run the risk of someone else using your design, improving it and registering it as another invention. There are many prototype kits and books available to assist you, if required, from book stores or online. Once complete, you can use your prototype as a demonstration tool for potential investors and other potential stakeholders.

6. File a patent with the patent office. You can file a patent for a utility patent or a design patent, depending on what your invention is. You can write the application yourself but, before filing it, ensure that you consult a patent expert--such as a patent attorney or agent--to look over it thoroughly. Alternatively, get them to write the patent application for you. Make sure they are registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office and discuss fees early on before you commit to anything. Be sure to have all of your documentation including your invention journal and prototypes with you at meetings. Unless you are a patent attorney yourself and file the papers yourself, someone could find a loophole in your patent application and use it to patent the design themselves.

7. Create a detailed business and marketing plan explaining how you will get the product to market, how it will be manufactured, what your start up costs are, who your customers will be and if you will license or sell the product. You can use your business plan to convince potential investors, buyers licensees and other stakeholders to invest in getting your invention on to the market.

Safeguard Retail Clients From Gift Certificate Ripoffs

Protect Retail Customers from Gift Card Scams

Whether it's for a birthday or other special event, consumers love to give and receive gift cards. Scam artists, however, have put a kink in this popular gift-giving venture by stealing the numbers from inactivated cards, waiting for them to be activated and using the cards before the gift receivers can. With a few simple measures, a retailer can help protect customers from falling victim to this scam.

Instructions

1. Keep gift cards behind the counter. Display dummy cards so customers know they are available, and then provide a real card at the time of purchase.

2. Take inventory on a regular basis to identify missing cards. Scam artists sometimes pocket the cards and leave the store with them so they will have more time to write down the numbers in a less conspicuous place than hiding in an aisle or the bathroom. They return later and replace them on the rack.

3. Ask your gift card telephone operators to refrain from providing gift card balances over the phone. Either set up a Web site where gift card holders can retrieve this information after setting up a password or only allow balance inquiries at the store.

4. Include a hidden PIN on each gift card. Make it difficult for scam artists to get this number without altering the packaging. This is especially useful if you keep cards on a display rack. If the customer brings a card to the register and the packaging isn't completely sealed, have her choose a different card.

5. Set up a Web site where the customer must register the gift card and choose a PIN before he can use it. For added security, include a code on the receipt he must also input when activating the card. Require the user to enter the PIN when making purchases.

6. Require customers to show a picture ID when using gift cards. Someone with a stolen gift card may hesitate or refuse to identify herself. Tech-savvy crooks have found a way to purchase a real gift card and then reprogram it with the number of a stolen card with a balance. This allows them to shop at the actual stores and not just online.

7. Be suspicious of anyone milling around the gift card display or taking several cards and then putting them back. Politely ask if you can help him and take notice if he's carrying a note pad to write numbers on or an electronic device (magstripe scanner) he can use to scan or copy the numbers. Check with your local police to see if you can charge a person with shoplifting if you catch him stealing card numbers.

Safeguard A Concept When Discussing Having A Large Business

Due to the many cases of young and unknown inventors and artists who have allegedly had their ideas stolen by big businesses, it's worthwhile to discuss protect your idea when sharing it with a corporation. Getting a patent is a long process (think of all the companies that have patents pending), and they sometimes aren't approved because the idea is too similar to another already on file. Presenting your idea to a big business is a high-risk situation, but there are a few precautions that you can take to reduce that risk.

Instructions

Get a Patent for Your Idea

1. Go to the United States Patent and Trademark Office's website (see Resources for a link to the site). Do a patent search to make sure that your idea isn't already on file with the patent office.

2. Click the link for unregistered e-filers to sign on. Fill out the patent forms with all of the required information, including a clear description of your idea and diagrams or drawings that represent your idea. (You can also file this application through the mail by downloading the appropriate forms.)

3. Pay the appropriate fees to go with your patent application and wait for a decision regarding the filing of your patent. If approved, you now have the highest form of protection for your idea when and if you do decide to share it with a big business. If the business were to steal your idea, you have legal recourse. You can also present your idea while the application is in process by advertising it as "patent pending."

A Few Other Methods of Protecting Your Idea

4. Draw up a business proposal detailing your idea. Send the proposal to yourself via registered U.S. mail and leave it unopened. While this is not as strong a protection as having an actual patent (and may not hold up in court), it's at least a way of proving that you conceived of the idea first based on the date of the mail piece.

5. Have another party with you when you present your idea to a big business, to act as a witness to the fact that you came to the company with that idea.

6. Be vague when sending out inquiries to big businesses about your idea. Only go into more of a detailed explanation when the company shows a solid interest and agrees to a meeting with you.

7. Have companies sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), which basically says that they cannot share your idea with anyone else. (See links below for a sample NDA that you can use.)

Safeguard A Concept

There are a variety of ways to protect an idea once you have crafted it to perfection. Regardless of whether you have your idea protected using one or more of these methods, it is important that you still keep the information confidential and use smart business tactics when disseminating your idea to the appropriate contacts who can help it get off the ground. It is not unusual for a business owner to have a certain level of paranoia regarding her business idea until deals are made, contracts are signed, and the idea is in the production stages.

Instructions

1. Have the other party sign a non-disclosure agreement. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a standard form used in business to compel the other party to not speak to anyone else about the idea you are about to disclose to them.

2. Apply for a patent for your idea. You will have to go to the United States Patent and Trademark Office's website (see link below), look under the section entitled "File" and choose the appropriate option that applies to your situation. You will need to draw up diagrams and a detailed description for your idea in order to file for a patent. There is filing fee (changes from time to time). Expect to spend a few hundred dollars minimum when filing for a patent. You may also want to do a thorough search to make sure your idea has not already been patented; if so, your application will be denied and there are no refunds after the application has been processed.

3. Send a proposal detailing your idea to yourself using registered mail and leave it unopened. This is also called "the poor man's copyright or patent." While it may or may not be recognized in a court of law, and it may not help you get compensation, this will be clear proof that you were the originator of the idea.

4. Keep the details of your idea very confidential. When you're out and about, speaking to colleagues, friends, business associates, and even family, there is a certain level of discretion that you must have when discussing your idea in order to protect it. If you give up too much information to someone who has a tendency to gossip, you unleash your idea to the world and it will become extremely difficult to protect it. So only give extremely general details about your idea---for example, "I want to open a business to help children" instead of "I want to establish a website linked with the Department of Education to offer kids on the brink of dropping out career counseling services." Be discreet.

A Cheque List For Qc

Practice quality control so every product meets required standards.

A business performs quality control concerning their products to ensure that all standards are met during production and that the best quality of products are shipped to the consumer. Developing a quality control checklist allows the evaluator to review all production specifications and criteria based on general requirement documents and accepted product conditions.

Scheduled Tasks and Responsibilities

A quality control checklist should evaluate the proper documentation regarding the scheduled tasks during the entire production of the product. These documents comprise of which personnel has responsibility during which operational process and details the workers' exact duties. The quality control checklist should also review that business guidelines and standards are met by all workers.

Production Phases

The evaluator studies all production phases of the business to investigate any lapses in quality control that might make an inferior or faulty product. Topics evaluated on the quality control checklist involve checking the project plan and cost analysis during the initiation phase, validate and verify the product specs during the design phase and review operations during the build phase.

Reviews

Commencing in quality reviews is essential to a quality control checklist. Reviews should be done regarding the durability of the product to last during its estimated life cycle. An evaluator begins a requirements review, design review and a production readiness review to make sure workers had followed the documentation in the creation of the product.

Testing

An important part of a quality control checklist involves the testing of all products to meet all desired requirements. The evaluator makes sure testing had been done throughout all phases of the production process--from design to the end product. All compliance issues are evaluated to see whether the proper steps were taken when discovering if certain products did not meet the necessary standards.

Market Your Website Free

Promote Your Website Free

The key to online business success is the proper website promotion. Most beginners fail in an online business because they tend to neglect or pay less attention in promoting their website. If your website is perfectly made and has tons of good content, but people do not know where to find it, then your website is useless. That is why proper website promotion is the key to online business success. Always remember that promotion leads to traffic and traffic equals to sales leading to profit. I suggest to use free advertising and website promotion instead of paying for it. The less expense you have in a business the better it is. Here are some tips on promote your website for free.

Instructions

1. Your first step in promoting your website is to submit your website to search engines such as Yahoo and Google. For Yahoo, go to "search.yahoo.com/info/submit.html" and for Google, go to "www.google.com/addurl". Both of them are free.

2. Promote your website free with Online Directories. There are countless amounts of online directories that allow you to advertise your website for free. Google uses the Open Directory (DMOZ) for generating the information contained in some search results, so if you can get your website listed here it's potentially beneficial. If you do a search for "Free Online Directory" you'll find there are plenty more directories to list your website.

3. Classified ads is another way to promote your website. Classified ads are often free and heavily viewed. I use USfreeads, Oodle, and Craigslist to advertise my website free. Again just search for "online classified ads" and you should get loads of places to list your site.

4. Join a social networking site like Twitter, Facebook, My Space and create a free account. Make sure it contains a link to your website. These sites can be helpful to keep a networking friends open between you by giving them an informal means to communicate with you and your business. You can also post your business, create a group relating to your website and invite people to join. You can definitelt promote your website free in social networking sites if used properly. Do not SPAM people. People hate spammers in social networking sites.

5. Start a blog to promote your website. If you know something that you think would interest people then write about it in a blog. There are numerous free blogging platforms such as Blogger or Wordpress.

Include your website link in your blog.

6. Upload a video to YouTube or Metacafe. They are free to use and an excellent way to promote your website free. Google and Yahoo now includes videos, images, maps and news in search results along with regular website results. If you can video some areas of your business that may be interesting to people, then upload it to YouTube or Metacafe and include some relevant keywords in the video description then add link to your website.

7. Join a free online forums or groups like "Aimoo" to promote your website. If you create a profile for yourself you can often add a link to your website so that the link shows any time you post a comment. Comment spam is generally disliked, so make sure you have some intelligent input before leaving loads of spammy comments on forums. There are lots of free forums that you can join.

8. Press Releases. Press releases are picked up by news services and can potentially drive a lot of traffic and promote your your website. There are free press release programs that you can join. If you have a new product or service to announce, then this is potentially a great way to tell people about it.

9. Write articles. This is a great way to optimize your website and have good search engine rankings. Write articles rich in keywords with good content and you will sure drive traffic to your website.

Market Your Website Free Of Charge

Promote Your Website for Free

Whether you are a webmaster or a beginner blogger, there are several methods you can use to promote your website for free.

Instructions

1. Support your blogging community. Visit websites that are in the same category as your own and form relationships by leaving comments, visiting every day and subscribing to RSS feeds. Leaving comments with your URL attached will bring visitors to your blog and help to promote your website

2. Ask to be featured. Once you have formed a relationship with other blog owners, ask them to write a post and feature you and your website on their blog. Bloggers are usually very considerate and most of them will go out of their way to help you.

You might consider offering to promote their website in return. Have them write up a bio and a description of their site and you can feature it in one of your posts.

3. Offer a link exchange. Find other websites and blogs that are in the same category as your own and contact blog owners about exchanging links. This means that they will put a link to your site on their blog, if you will do the same for them. Google recognizes links back to your site as a good thing and will rank you highly if you have a lot of incoming links. This is a good way to build traffic, get higher search ranking and improve traffic to your site.

Using all these tips or a combination of them, you can easily promote your website for free.

Discover If Your Clients Are Licensed In Maryland

All business licenses in Maryland are searchable online.

Finding out if a business is licensed in Maryland is important information to know before entering a contract. Licensing proves that a business has met the regulations required by the government agency and that the company has agreed to abide by any of Maryland's laws and regulations regarding taxation and ethical business practices. Tracking down a license in Maryland is relatively simple and may be carried out online if you have the company's contact information.

Instructions

1. Obtain contact information from the business in question. If contact information can't be provided, such as the name and address, it is possible that the business is not registered and may not carry out business in Maryland.

2. Visit the website of Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. A list of professions is provided. Click on the appropriate business type in order to be directed to the search page.

3. Conduct a search of the business by name, business name, personal location, business location or license-registration number. If you are unable to find the business on the website, it is unlikely that a license has been issued.

4. Contact the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Division of Labor and Industry, by phone or mail if you are unsure which category a business is listed under or if you have other questions. The office can be contacted at:

1100 North Eutaw Street

Room 606

Baltimore, MD 21201

410-767-2241

Provide A Effective Presentation

A professional appearance and clearly labeled visual aids help achieve presentation success.

A successful presentation is one with persuasive, memorable information that people can use in the future. Whether the presentation is used to attract clients, build business relationships or secure investments, the successful presentation informs the viewer, answers the viewer's questions and shows the viewer the next steps.

Instructions

1. Do your research. Make sure that you are thoroughly familiar with your presentation topic. Use reputable resources to verify your information for accuracy.

2. Organize your information so it is presented in an organized and methodical fashion. Introduce the topic and provide some brief background information on the subject or area. Provide details about your topic. Explain why the areas you highlight are important. Present data that support your presentation's information. End the presentation with a conclusion that defines the key results or important areas. Highlight two or three important aspects that your audience should remember.

3. Create a visual presentation, since people are more likely to remember information that is accompanied by visuals. Use slides to highlight the information. Limit the information on each slide to two or three facts. Choose an easily read font to ensure your viewers can read the slides at a distance. Use charts and graphs to bring attention to important figures and trends. Label the charts and graphs clearly and provide citations for your references.

4. Memorize the presentation, if possible, and outline the presentation's information on note cards for quick reference. Practice the presentation until you are comfortable presenting the information. Keep the presentation to a respectful time, as not to overwhelm the audience with too much information and take up too much of their time.

5. Dress neatly since all eyes will be on you during the presentation. Smile and make eye contact with your audience. Use an inviting tone when speaking to keep the audience interested and speak at a moderate pace. Don't forget to breathe and be confident in your information.

6. Provide additional time at the end of your presentation to address your audience's questions. Answer the questions in a friendly yet direct manner with accurate information.

Raise A Credit Score Rapidly

A FICO score, also known as a credit score, is a three-digit number that rates individuals on their "creditworthiness," or the likelihood they will repay their debts. Lenders such as banks, credit card companies and mortgage companies use this score to decide whether to extend credit. This score, which ranges from 300 (very poor) to 850 (perfect), factors in items such as bill payment history, outstanding collection accounts, recent credit applications and total length of credit history. You can raise your FICO score in less than a year by following a few steps.

Instructions

1. Download a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com. Make sure to obtain a report from each of the three major credit bureaus, TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.

2. Go to the MyFICO website to obtain your FICO score. In 2010, obtaining a report cost $15.95, or you could obtain one for free along with a trial offer of Score Watch. If you don't cancel within 10 days, you will be billed $12.95 monthly.

3. Contact the three major credit bureaus to dispute inaccurate items on your credit report (if any). False collection accounts, charge-offs and judgments will significantly reduce your credit score.

4. Pay off late bills. According to MyFICO, late bills drag down your credit score significantly. Pay your latest bills first, as these will likely have the largest effect on your credit score.

5. Pay off collection accounts. These accounts, also known as "charged-off accounts" or "bad debt," show lenders you have forgotten your debt obligations in the past. While these items won't drop off your credit report after you pay, creditors will report the status of the accounts as "paid," raising your credit score slightly.

6. Pay down your revolving debt, such as credit cards and home equity loans. Carrying a high balance on your revolving lines of credit dings your FICO score. According to MyFICO, borrowers should keep their debts to 30 percent or less of their available credit.

Dell M210x Projector Failure

Dell M210X projector is designed to display and provide audio for multimedia applications.

The Dell M210X projector is an ultralight portable projector weighing just 2.6 lbs. An enhanced feature of the projector is that it has built in closed captioning for people with hearing disabilities to read enhanced displayed text.

Function

The M210X features the dual function of producing XGA (1024X768) dot pixel resolution for display purposes. The projector can also display SVGA (800x600) pixel resolution.

Problem

Projector failure can be attributed to a burned out projector lamp or a problem with the power supply. If the projector's fan does not initialize when the projector is turned on, the problem is most likely the power supply.

Solution

The user guide provides detailed instructions concerning projector lamp replacement. If the projector has an internal electrical problem, the best option is to take the projector to an authorized Dell service representative to troubleshoot the problem.

Promote A Brand New Website

After creating the perfect website or even just a small website, you'll want people to come visit it; otherwise, it's just a pretty picture that only you can see. Promoting a new website is key, because very little random traffic will come your way without it. Promotion can take a variety of forms; most are simple and cheap, but you can always spend more to get more.

Instructions

1. Add a website to search engines. By adding a new web page to search engines, people will be able to find your website when they search on keywords that are related to your site. There are thousands of search engines, but there are only a few top search sites. Google is the leading search engine. There are services that you can use to submit your site to many search engines at once. There are free versions that submit to a dozen or so sites and then paid versions that will submit to hundreds or thousands of sites (See Resources).

2. Use Adwords. Google's Adwords program lets you advertise your website all over its network of sites. This includes millions of websites in almost any genre. You can agree to pay as little or as much as you want for clicks on the advertisements that take people to your site. You will pay only for actual visitors. This can be cheap and effective. This method is referred to as pay per click.

3. Use business cards. Get business cards printed with your website name and a short description. Post the business cards on bulletin boards that allow for this type of use. Share your business cards with your friends. Distribute the cards anywhere that is relevant, and always have some ready to hand out.

4. Use email to promote your site. Use email in the way you use business cards. You can add a message to the bottom of all or some of your emails to promote a new website. You should also directly email people who might be interested about the site. Never send unsolicited spam. Just email your friends and people you know who might want to know.

5. Advertise on message boards. Join groups or message boards that are relevant to your website's topic, and post a message announcing your new web page. First check the rules to see if this is allowed. If it's relevant to the board or group it will usually be allowed. You could also put the site in your signature so it is promoted with every message you post.

6. Use word of mouth. It's simple and old-fashioned, but it works. Tell everyone you know about your website, especially in conversations about related topics. Don't beat people over the head with the news; just tell them what you have been up to and why you think it's an important new site. It's even easier to do this with social websites such as Facebook and Twitter. You can reach many of your friends at once. But you may want to wait to talk to your friends in person, as many things can get skimmed on social sites.

7. Pay for advertising on popular sites. Many popular websites have a program to allow you to advertise your website on their site. Find program details for advertisers by searching their site. There may be a minimum amount of advertising you have to purchase.

8. Consider banner exchanges. These are largely out of date and no longer used, but they do still exist. A banner exchange is where you create a banner-sized advertisement and submit it to an exchange site. You then post code on your new website, and it will display advertising on your page. Your banner will in turn be advertised on other sites. The problem with is that it makes your site look cheap, and unless you get traffic on your site, your banner will not be displayed on other sites.

Promote A Makeup Artist Business

Makeup artists need to use networking to promote their business.

As a freelance makeup artist, it can be difficult to find clients on a consistent basis. That's why it's so important for you to network as much as possible and to promote your makeup artistry services every chance you get. It may seem excessive, but networking and promoting is what lands you clients. And after all, clients do pay your bills right?

Instructions

1. Generate business cards fit for a professional makeup artist. Create flashy business cards that will attract the attention of potential clients. When standard black and white business cards are handed out, more often than not they land in the trash. Hire a graphic designer to create outstanding and flashy business cards that are too beautiful to discard. You're a makeup artist, which means you are in the business of making people beautiful, project that through the design on your business card.

2. Create videos on YouTube. Aside from funny videos, one of the main reasons women use YouTube is to watch makeup tutorials. Generally, the women who teach makeup tutorials on YouTube are simply women with an interest in makeup. Upload makeup tutorials on YouTube on a regular basis and put your booking information in the sidebar. Push your status up to guru by proclaiming your professional as a makeup artist. It will build your reputation and your subscriber base instantly. After all, what woman would turn down free education from a professional makeup artist?

3. Rent a booth at the fair. Most makeup artists would scoff at this advice, but you should not pass up the crowds and the opportunity to show off your talents firsthand. Decorate your makeup artist booth professionally, preferably as a makeup counter and offer to do discounted makeup on women that are passing by. Bring a friend with you to be your demonstration model in order to attract those first few clients. Bring your makeup artist portfolio and leave it out in the open for the public to see. Make a big sign of your usual rates and your discounted rates for the fair so clients see just how much they are saving. If you charge $45 for each makeup application, it will be easy to make over $1,000 in just one day at the fair. Don't forget to bring your contact information and business cards so people can contact you when they need a makeup artist.